Rokoduguni signs third season at Doncaster as 39-year-old ex-England wing plays on

Semesa Rokoduguni has signed a one-year contract extension with Doncaster Knights, committing the former England wing to a third consecutive season at Castle Park as he approaches his 39th birthday.

The Fijian-born winger contributed three tries in 12 appearances during the last Elior Championship campaign, and Doncaster’s move to a part-time model next season is expected to ease the demands of balancing semi-professional rugby with his duties as a Lance Corporal in the British Army.

Rokoduguni recently turned out for the Army in their 41-36 Babcock Trophy defeat to the Royal Navy at Allianz Stadium in early May, underlining his continued commitment to military rugby. In a recent interview with Rugby Journal, he reflected on how the Army set his career in motion: “The reason why I hold military rugby so close to my heart is because they’ve given me the opportunity, they’ve opened the door for me. If it wasn’t for them telling me that I was good enough to play, I would never have played for Bath or England. I’d still be spending my days fixing tanks.”

Rokoduguni arrived at Doncaster in the summer of 2024 following two seasons in France, capping a decade at Bath where he made 194 appearances, scored 71 tries, and became a firm favourite among supporters. At international level, he earned four caps for England between 2014 and 2017, scoring four tries.

Doncaster Director of Rugby Sir Ian McGeechan welcomed the renewal, saying: “We are delighted to have him another year. His contribution in training as well as his impact in games adds so much value to the squad. A great role model.”

Who Rokoduguni plays under at Doncaster next season remains uncertain. While McGeechan continues as Director of Rugby, the Knights are searching for a new head coach and attack coach following the departures of Darren Fearns and Jacob Ford, who have taken transition coaching roles at Newcastle and Sale respectively.