Paul Smith is back where it all started at Swinton. www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk

Paul Smith is back where it all started at Swinton. www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk

Will be a superb signing for you guys, he's been a bit quiet this year but last year he was fantastic, certainly up there with the best 2nd rowers in this league.

Lets hope he can win the grand final in his last game for us. I wish him well for the future.

Crikey!! Surprised at this one!! Thought we'd have re-signed Smithy, some big boots for somebody to fill now!! His size definately adds a lot too!!

All the best Paul, and thank you!

Also surprised, good luck Paul. And what with Ian Watson going to Swinton too, you could probably name a full team of ex Fax players who have played for Swinton the past couple or so years!

a big surprise that, he as been the most consistant player all year, we will miss smithy,, one thing is he wont have as far to travel, that could have been a factor, any way good look big fella

Been a great signing for us and should be the same for Swinton. Never gives less than 100%. All the best

i expected him to re sign for fax.

i cant think that he has not been offered another deal.

maybe Calland and Hall already have someone lined up to come in as a replacement.

I think it's more likely to be a personal choice taking into account his teaching career and winding down his playing career.

I can't see him not being offered a contract by Fax.

Fantastic signing for Swinton, a big loss for us, but not that unexpected. He is still a class player but getting into the twilight of his career and with his teaching job in Manchester I suspectt it will be easier for him.

Thanks for a great service for us Paul and I hope you crown it off with a Grand Final victory

I was talking to a couple of mates yesterday (yes one of them was Bingo) and I said I thought this might be his last season with us.

Still a bit of a shock all the same (nothing on the courier web about it so not the best way to find out about it either) but I wish him all the best at Swinton.

Thanks for your service.

two good signings for swinton
smith has been outstanding for us in his time with us. all the best for the future.
must be a couple of new second rowers lined up for us???

Thanks Paul. Great service from him. Sure he will do well at Swinton and fits in with his job better. Plus he is 30 so maybe looking after himself and the future as this league is getting faster and better each year. I would hope that we would look to SL again for a backrower rather than any player in the Championship. I am sure there will be a few floating around due to the change in SL Clubs setup and the academy.

Sad to see this news, Paul has been a good player for us. He was much better last season than this, so it may be a case of now is the right time to let go.

I cannot see MC letting him go easily unless there were replacements lined up to take over, so we shall eagerly await an announcement soon.

i agree with you and your mate bingo!

is gonna have to be damn good 2nd rower to fill his boots....hes one of them that never seems amazing, but never does anything wrong..

watch this space

Good luck with Swinton, Paul. Thanks for all your hard work at Halifax.

gutted. a quality player

Heard he was offered a coaching role him and Watto

led the team out tonight but still nothing been said in the courier or by the club.
bit odd, should let the fans know why so could give him cheer he deserves.

Exactly my point made earlier. It is strange, we usually find these things out first on here at the moment.

or were swinton not supposed to say anything until after tonights game.

Fair point but we could still have cleared it up tonight if we wanted to.

Quote ="mark richardson"Paul Smith is back where it all started at Swinton. www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk'" Good luck Paul...always gave 100% for us. Thank you.

Quote ="mark richardson"Paul Smith is back where it all started at Swinton. www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk'" Good luck Paul...always gave 100% for us. Thank you.

Some great comments about Paul,none of them surprising because we had the pleasure of seeing his talent develop 9 years ago.
Looking forward to seeing him back where he belongs and hopefully our two great teams can meet again because they are always great matches.

I remember when he left hudds to sign for us the hudds fans only had good things to say about him aswell.

I would imagine everybody that has player with him and coached him would say he's the perfect professional. Really hope he goes with a grand final winners medal.

Good luck Paul thanks for the efforts of the past couple years!!

Swinton turning into a mini Fax... Can only be a good thing