Wakefield announce Oxford partnership

James Gordon

Super League club Wakefield have linked up with new Championship 1 side Oxford.

Oxford are one of three new clubs to enter the league next season, alongside Hemel Stags and University of Gloucestershire All Golds, and have a board that includes former St Helens CEO Tony Colquitt and former Bradford player Tevita Vaikona.

The partnership will focus on player development pathways, but also on utilising partnerships with Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University to find future rugby league administrators.

Wildcats chief executive James Elston said: “We’re delighted to go into partnership with Oxford and are sure it’ll be a successful link-up for both clubs.

“As a club they have some very experienced people working there who have the expertise to make a great success of rugby league in Oxfordshire and we’re happy to be able to add our support to that.”

Oxford will play out of the iconic Iffley Road rugby ground in the nine team Championship 1 competition, which also comprises teams from North and South Wales, the north east and London.

Colquitt added: “It makes a lot of sense for us to partner up with the Wildcats. They are a club making great strides and it’s a big positive for us to have them working closely with us.

“I think there’s a fantastic opportunity to link up with the educational establishments in Oxford with current students and alumni for the future generations of rugby league players and administrators, and that will very much be an area that we’re focussing on.”