Welsh Youngsters Get Chance with Super League Academy

Wales Rugby League will send five young players to the City of Hull Academy in East Yorkshire this weekend to join some of the most talented youngsters in the sport, all with aspirations to eventually play Super League.

The City of Hull Academy is a joint venture by Super League clubs Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull FC to streamline their pathway system and ensure the very best talent comes through to both clubs.

Jon Ellis, WRL National Coaching and Performance Manager said: “We are delighted Super League academies remain open to taking players from Wales and this link with City of Hull builds upon the previous work which has seen young Welsh talent go to St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Widnes Vikings and Warrington Wolves in recent years. We will to continue to work with all Super League clubs and certainly appreciate their support.

“Wales has always been recognised as a hotbed of talent and we hope one of these five players may follow in the footsteps of others who have done so well. Regan Grace, a product of the WRL pathway system, was a 17 year old in the WRL playing apprenticeship scheme when he had a trial with St Helens. Two years later he was full Welsh International winning the 2015 European Championships. The more players we have at Super League clubs the stronger our national team will be, which is essential to not only to Wales but the development of international Rugby League.

“One young player travelling to City of Hull is from the BTEC Rugby League course at Coleg y Cymoedd, a new educational course and partnership set up by Wales Rugby League. Whilst the primary beneficiary of this college initiative will be the South Wales Scorpions first team, under 20s, and the community clubs in South Wales, it is hoped Super League can also benefit from these players.

“With the Scorpions to tour Canada later this year, a whole host of clubs including Bridgend Blue Bulls, Cardiff City RL, Aber Valley Wolves and some new sides about to start the 2016 Welsh Conference season, and three Welsh clubs, West Wales Raiders, Valley Cougars and Torfaen Tigers playing English outfits in the Conference League South, it is an extremely exciting time to be a young player in South Wales.”

Along with the five young players who are 17 and 18 years of age, Ellis will travel with two other members of staff from the Wales under 16s international team including head coach Wayne Ponting.

Ellis continued: “This trip is also being used to develop volunteers in our junior pathway system and any knowledge gained will pass back through the system in Wales. We will also continue discussions around taking the Wales under 16s international team on a training camp in Hull over the summer period.”

West Wales Raiders’ chairman Andrew Thorne, whose club the players are from, added: “We as a club now have direct relations with those in the City of Hull Academy and this will no doubt benefit everyone well into the future. We wish our players well this weekend and if we eventually lose a few to Super League that is fine, as it will inspire the next generation to come through.”