High-flying Nottingham Outlaws have seen their hard work complimented by Championship club Doncaster, who have signed two of their star players.

The Outlaws have made a wonderful start to life in the Rugby League Conference, winning eight matches on the trot which has put them fourth in the table with games in hand.

This hasn't gone unnoticed with Doncaster moving to sign second rower Steve Hall and flying winger Chris McNamara to bolster their depleted squad.

Both Hall and McNamara have a fine pedigree in the game, earning international call-ups at student level and playing for the all-powerful Loughborough students team, with Hall in particular having a fine international series playing for his native Wales.

With both players under 21 years of age, they are clearly marked as ones for the future yet, within hours of signing, Hall was drafted into first team duty and McNamara seems sure to follow him sooner rather than later.

Below first team level, several of the Outlaws outstanding under-16s players have also had the talent scouts from the professional ranks on their case after starring in the regional training camps and trials matches.

On the face of it, one might have expected Outlaws coach Martin Crick to have been disappointed with the prospect of losing some of his squad to the professional ranks but he was decidedly upbeat.

He said: "It would be quite easy to be negative about these things from an insular point of view but I see it as a huge endorsement of the club and what we are starting to achieve in the Midlands. If the professional clubs are coming to Nottingham and picking up our players, then the club is obviously on the right track and the pathway is clearly there for any local player who wants to have a shot at a pro contract."

Outlaws Chairman Richard Johnson endorsed the thoughts of his coach.

He said: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank both Steve Hall and Chris McNamara for their efforts last season when they both starred in our magnificent Trophy-winning season and for showing that they could more than handle life in the Conference National. While we are sorry to see them go, we wish them every success as they make the step up to the professional ranks."