Benson named new Knights skipper

Woods is building a side for the Championship after promotion in 2010

York City Knights coach Dave Woods has named Alex Benson as club captain, replacing Jordan Ross.

The 25-year-old prop has been given the armband ahead of the Championship season which starts on 13 March.

Woods told BBC Radio York: "Alex thoroughly deserves the captaincy, he's been outstanding in pre-season.

"He's a good role model for the other guys and especially the young blokes. He's an extension of me out there really and that's what we're after."

Benson has a tough act to follow in replacing Ross, who was last year's player of the season. He led the Knights out for the first time for Sunday's 34-30 win over St Helens academy side at the Huntington Stadium.

He was over the moon...he said it was a great honour and he'd be really pleased to take it on

Dave Woods

"We look at all different traits for a captain", Woods added.

"Alex will lead by example. He's not one of these blokes that will shout and scream, different personalities are out on the field and he'll know when to have a quiet word with someone, when to raise his voice.

"He was over the moon when I told him. He said it was a great honour and he'd be really pleased to take it on. He's still smiling and will do really well with it."

Benson, who joined the Knights from Doncaster, is in his third season at the club.