Former Hull FC back Jordan Rapana will play for a Gold Coast-based rugby league club in 2026. The Kiwi, 36, recently returned to Australia, having retired from the professional game at the end of last season.
However, Rapana will continue to play regionally next year, linking up with his former junior club, Currumbin Eagles, who play in a local Brisbane league.
Signing a two-year deal with Hull, Rapana mutually agreed to be released from the final year of his contract in the summer. He played 21 times for the club, featuring at full-back, wing, and centre.
In his time in the NRL, he was a New Zealand international and featured 19 times for the Kiwis, playing in numerous Test matches against Australia and England.
He made his NRL debut at Gold Coast Titans, where he played as a junior, debuting in first grade under current Hull coach John Cartwright. After completing a two-year Mormon mission, he then signed for Canberra Raiders, where he played for over ten years, making 214 appearances and scoring 106 tries.
Speaking for the final time as a Hull player, Rapana said back in September: "My time was only short here but I've made some friends for life. I'm so grateful that I made the decision to come here.
"I'm very proud. That's something I've taken pride in in my career, being that player who the boys want to play alongside. That was a big reason for me choosing to hang the boots up a year early.
"I didn't want to get to next year and the body can't hold up or do what I've done for the majority of my career. It was a tough decision, but I know it was the right decision as well.
"I've had some injuries this year and there's a lot more to life than football. I'm a father now and a husband, and I want to be around for years to come and enjoy making memories with my kids, but as tough as it is, I know it's the right decision."