THEY'RE used to showing off their skills on the pitch.
And last night Hull FC players showed they are better off with a rugby ball than a microphone in their hands.
Brave souls took to the stage at Hull City Hall for The X-mas Factor.
The tuneless warblers sang Christmas songs as part of the event for Kirk Yeaman's testimonial celebrations.
Kirk, 29, is coming up to his 13th season with the club and says he has loved every minute.
Last night he sang Lonely This Christmas in the X Factor-style contest.
He said: "I won't lie, I can't sing. But there was a good crowd in and it was a lot of fun.
"The boys and the fans all went along for a good laugh."
Cheesy festive jumpers were the outfit of choice for the performers, with the judging panel taking every opportunity to take the mickey out of the singers.
Danny Houghton had the unenviable job of going first, with his song Jiggle Bell Rock.
And as each act took it in turn to prove why they chose rugby rather than singing as a career, the insults from the judges got worse.
The panel was Adam Pearson, Nick Barmby, Miss Hull and District Jessie Palmer and Tribfest organiser Eddie Faulkner.
They did not hold back any punches as they ribbed each of the Hull FC players for their bad timing, dad-dancing style moves and general inability to perform.
But it was all done in good humour for the festive season.
One of the biggest laughs of the night came when Josh Bowden and Danny Nicklas performed a duet of The Pogues' Fairytale of New York.
Kirk – a Black and Whites centre who has also played for England and Great Britain – said: "A lot of testimonials have an X Factor-style competition, but we decided to do things a bit different this time.
"Obviously, The X-mas Factor was a big event, but the biggest thing for me will be the game against Castleford in January."
