Hudson takes Wakefield youth role

Former Castleford hooker Ryan Hudson has joined Wakefield as the club's new Youth Development Manager.

Hudson, 32, retired from playing at the end of the season, having made more than 250 appearances for the Tigers, Wakefield and Huddersfield.

His role will include overseeing talent identification, academy coaches and setting structures and systems in place to improve the youth setup at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.

He said: “I am really excited about the future.

“I am looking forward to helping the kids and working with the youth development to see them develop into full-time, first team players which will be great.

“The club approached me and I like the idea of working with the youth side of things.  It wasn’t so much the coaching but more managing and putting systems in place and developing a youth structure.

"My job will be aimed at getting out there and building relationships with amateur clubs and we want kids coming to Wakefield Wildcats. We want to put systems in place that will attract them and stop them going to the likes of Leeds, Wigan and Saints."

Hudson, who will formally start his role in December, previously played for Wakefield in 2000 and 2001.