Webster appointed as City of Hull academy coach
Hull FC and Hull KR have confirmed that James Webster has been apoointed as head coach of the new-look City of Hull Academy.
Webster, whose playing and coaching career has taken him to both clubs, will take charge of the joint academy Under-19s team.
“It’s a great challenge and one I’m extremely looking forward to. The academy is a huge project and to head it up was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,”he said.
“In today’s market, it is very difficult to acquire top-end English players from other clubs so to be able to have the resources to produce them for ourselves is brilliant.
“Our aim is to produce players to help the first teams win matches. Hopefully, in the new system, we can produce more high quality players.
“I’ve had a tour around Bishop Burton College where the academy will be based and the facilities are outstanding.
“It is somewhere I was already familiar with having worked down there whilst I was at Hull FC but since then it has come on leaps and bounds. The hard work starts now.”
The post attracted an impressive list of applicants, with one current head coach from an English professional club, and a Super League player set to retire at the end of the season, amongst the applicants.
Webster will be working alongside with the new academy director, Danny Wilson, and assistant director, Rob Nickolay.
“We are thrilled to have secured the services of a top coach of James’ pedigree in the game,” said Wilson.
“He is a talented individual that has experience at the highest level, he is an astute operator and his knowledge of the game is second to none.
“There is no doubt that we have the perfect man to lead the City of Hull Academy and help us develop and promote Super League stars of the future.
“James understands both clubs and the importance of rugby league to people in the city, which was an important part of the recruitment process.
“His reputation speaks for itself and he is looking forward to the challenge. That hunger for the role meant he stood out amongst a very competitive group of candidates for the position and it is great to see such interest in what we’re trying to build here in Hull.
“It is an exciting project and one we feel will be better for having someone as experienced as James at the helm.”