Hull FC & Hull KR Merge Academies
It's to help increase both the quantity and quality of Hull-based players.
Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers have announced a ground-breaking plan to combine the clubs’ Academies from the 2016 season
It's a pioneering new partnership for Rugby League and the new relationship will see both clubs setting history and putting rivalry aside to bring two existing youth development systems under one roof.
The long-term aim will be to increase both the quantity and quality of Hull-based players playing the game at the highest level.
The new set-up is to be based at Bishop Burton College, the home of Hull City’s Academy.
Hull FC owner Adam Pearson said:
"To develop an Academy function that the city on the whole can be proud of will allow us to focus time, energy and resources on these key areas which will create a pathway to develop international stars of the future, whilst also allowing both clubs and Rugby League to be pioneers in setting up the first of these 'Super Academies', that will soon become common place across the country."
Hull Kingston Rovers chairman Neil Hudgell said:
“Both we and Hull FC have ambitions of competing in the upper echelons of Super League on a consistent basis but we need to work together to make both clubs stronger. We need to do everything possible to invest appropriately in the right areas of the club and do all we can to develop home-grown players capable of playing at the very highest level of the game."