Hood is happy with the quality of the players recruited

Gateshead coach Chris Hood believes the club's trials day was a success and is confident the 14 players selected will handle the step up to Championship One.

Thunder will begin life in the bottom tier after a restructuring of the club's holding company. Gateshead have also had to recruit new players.

Hood told the club's website: "With the right preparation all the players selected will be able to perform.

"If they fully take the opportunity given to them they can forge a career."

The 14 players to come through the pool of 40 to earn a place in Hood's 2010 squad come from a variety of sources.

Some from student rugby and others from the network of north-east rugby league clubs, such as the Jarrow Vikings and also from the union code.

Remaining from last season's squad are Kevin Neighbour, Chris Parker, Ryan Clarke, Rhys Clarke, Tabua Cakacaka, Matt Barron, Mark Dack, Jonny Scott and Crawford Matthews.

Thunder squad

Phill Wall (Hooker), Tom Wilson (Centre/Wing), Dan O'Sullivan (Fullback/Wing), Jimmy Atkinson (Fullback/Wing), Jason Elliott (Fullback/Wing), Luke Watson (Loose forward), Adam Howard (Second row/Prop), David Cash (Prop), Karl Brandt (Prop/Second row), Will Bate (Hooker/Halfback), James Hall (Prop/Second row), Mark Walker (Prop) and Gareth Barron (Prop).

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