LEEDS COLLEGE OF BUILDING and Hunslet Hawks Rugby League Football Club are offering 16 to 19 year olds, who could have the potential to play Rugby League professionally, a unique opportunity to attend a top rugby academy whilst also completing one of the College’s full-time courses.
The LCB Hunslet Hawks Academy was set up 12 months ago and became an immediate success with the team being crowned RFL College League champions in its first season. The next Academy will start in September 2011.
As part of the arrangement with Hunslet Hawks, who play in the Co-op Championship, the LCB Hunslet Hawks Academy uses the Hawks’ facilities at South Leeds Stadium and receives professional training from the team’s coaching staff. In addition Hunslet Hawks carries Leeds College of Building’s logos on its shirts.
Mark Tinker, Sports Coordinator at Leeds College of Building explains: “This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in playing rugby league to a high standard but who still wants to gain qualifications to ensure they always have great career prospects. Students can choose from a wide range of courses covering everything from plumbing to quantity surveying and engineering to bricklaying and will also spend approximately six hours a week on the rugby field.
Ian Billyard, Principal at Leeds College of Building, says: “This partnership is already a huge success and for the team to be crowned champions in its first season is testament to the high standard of coaching and excellent training facilities that we now have access to. It’s the first time any Leeds College of Building rugby team has won the league so it’s even more of an achievement and we’ll certainly be wishing for the same success for Hunslet Hawks in the coming season.”
Tony Stead, Chairman of Hunslet Hawks says: “We’re delighted to partner Leeds College of Building in this Academy and to give young people the chance to play rugby league whilst also gaining valuable qualifications. Some of the students will play because they enjoy the game and others may be lucky enough to pursue a professional rugby career but they will still usually retire in their 30s so it’s great if they have suitable qualifications to use to build another career afterwards.”
For more information about the Academy please call 0113 222 6078 or visit www.lcb.ac.uk.
For more information call 0113 2576633 or email steve.wright@candidpr.co.uk or
emma.mortimer@candidpr.co.uk
