Kirklees College launch Rugby League Academy
Kirklees College will be extending its newly established Sports Academy in September 2012 thanks to the introduction of a rugby league academy squad, with support from Love Rugby League.com.
Kirklees College Sports Academy launched in May 2011, initially offering students the chance to study at college whilst training as football players for the college’s academy.
Now, with the support of both Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs, the college is looking to recruit rugby league players to start at college in September 2012. The rugby league team will be made to look the part in a brand new kit and off-field team wear provided by Love Rugby League.com, and they will benefit from coaching by professional coaches at Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs, including occasional guest coaching sessions by local rugby league legend John Kear and Rams’ new signing Nick Fozzard.
Kirklees College’s sports development officer, Adrian Tallon said, “Expanding the academy to include one of the region’s favourite sports is really exciting. We’re absolutely delighted to have both the Dewsbury Rams’ and the Batley Bulldogs’ support and look forward to working with them more closely than ever before, and we can’t thank Love Rugby League.com enough for supporting us and providing us with a great launch pad.”
“The team will be able to play a couple of their fixtures at the professional grounds, which will be a great experience for them. This is a really exciting time for our sports academy students as we move into our new multi-million pound, state-of-the-art campus which will have a fully-equipped gym. The professional coaching, whilst developing educationally at college should give these students the best chance at succeeding in a sporting career, whether it is on or off the field.”
Paul Harrison, General Manager at the Batley Bulldogs is looking forward to the new venture: “Batley Bulldogs are really excited and looking forward to our new link with Kirklees College, which is one of the largest colleges in the country with a wide and vast range of courses. Students playing in the Rugby League team will receive the very best in coaching from our first team squad, and our new Head Coach John Kear will also be along to a few training sessions plus games.”
Dewsbury Rams General Manager, Angela Burkinshaw also enthused: “We welcome the opportunity to further reinforce the links between Kirklees College, Batley Bulldogs and ourselves and are confident that the rugby league academy will strengthen the development of the local community game. Furthermore, we believe that the concept of making professional coaching available to students as part of their course will encourage the students to be the best they can be in their chosen career.”
Kirklees College Sports Academy can offer:
· A top class rugby league training programme
· A nationally recognised qualification
· Outstanding training facilities
· Links into professional clubs
· Matches in the ‘Student Rugby League u19s League
The college is looking for males aged between 16-19 who play rugby league, and want to study a course at college in September 2012 while playing for the region’s newest academy. Anyone interested can call the Kirklees College Sports Academy hotline on 01484 437053 or email sportsacademy@kirkleescollege.ac.uk
Further information can be found at www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/sportsacademy