AUSTRALIAN half back Ben Jeffries will not be taking up his two-year full-time contract with Leigh Centurions due to a combination of injury and family circumstances.

Centurions' head of rugby Derek Beaumont said: "It is very honest on Ben to contact us and notify us of his recent significant injury with a torn bicep.

"A combination of that and how it impacts on his family situation means that he is unable to join us at Leigh Centurions. I am sure he would have been a great asset to the club and we wish him well for a speedy recovery.

"We will hold his registration in the UK for the duration of the contract that he signed but we hope that should he recover from the injury he will be able to play again in Australia.

"We are now looking for a third pivot to go alongside Martyn Ridyard and Ryan Brierley."