Kirmond stepped up into the role of Player/Assistant Coach during the off-season, with the veteran former England international taking his first steps into first-team coaching.

The back-rower arrived at York from Wakefield Trinity ahead of the 2021 season, featuring in the 41-34 defeat to Featherstone Rovers in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Making 25 appearances, Kirmond was a vital part of the Knights side which reached the Betfred Championship Play-Offs and toppled Halifax Panthers 26-24 at The Shay, the Club’s first win in the division’s Play-Offs.

Earlier this year, the 37-year-old surpassed 350 career appearances, the majority of which were earned at Wakefield Trinity, where he served as Captain, having also represented Huddersfield Giants and Featherstone Rovers across a near-20-year career.