Hull FC to blaze trail with £48m RL school scheme

The East Yorkshire club yesterday revealed details of the revolutionary project which it is hoped will eventually lead to a production line of stellar talent both on and off the field.

Only a week after Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore talked about the development of similar footballing schools being intrinsic in improving the future of the much-maligned England national team, Hull has actually shown its own commitment and signed up to the principle.

It hopes the long-term benefit will generate a rise in standards for rugby league's international prospects where they, like their round-ball counterparts, have continually struggled to reach the highest standards. But the innovative venture also has a more holistic appeal.

The free school will continue to offer all the standard curriculum requirements alongside extra curricular rugby league development, not just focusing on core skills but everything from the rules of the game to fitness and nutrition, and psychology.

Those behind the scheme say for all those children with a love for the sport – and thriving Hull is already a traditional hotbed for talent – it creates the perfect blend.

The educational programmes will be supported by involvement and tuition from Hull FC first-team coaches and players as well as a specific director of rugby league, who will service both the new academy and Hull FC youth development.

"The partnership with Hull FC provides a fantastic and unique opportunity for the students at the academy who have a passion for rugby," said Sirius Academy's Dr Cathy Taylor.

"We are incredibly excited by the plans to create a rugby league academy at Sirius as part of our specialism in sport and are very fortunate to have the support of Hull FC, a highly successful SuperLeague club to mastermind the programme.

"Enthusiasm for the game is shared equally by girls at the academy and we look forward to promoting the sport to enable wider engagement and participation."

Money will be invested into state-of-the-art facilities and new buildings at the Sirius site ready for its opening next year. It will also act as a regional office for the Rugby Football League, providing meeting facilities for their regional development teams.

It is not the first time Hull FC, which already boasts a highly-commendable community development programme, has led the way in such positive fashion having earlier become the first ever sports club to receive "clubmark gold" status.

"This will be the school to be at to develop as a rugby league player," said Hull FC chief executive James Rule. "The ability to host in one location a player's academic, welfare and rugby league skills development will enable a fantastic package for any potential star.

"We hope this new development will help us continue to produce stars of the future who can follow in the footsteps of Kirk Yeaman, Richard Horne and Tom Briscoe and be world-renowned international sportsmen, plying their trade at Hull FC.

"Sirius Academy share our common value to engage, educate and inspire and together we feel we can make a telling difference to the city of Hull, the wider region across Yorkshire and the terrific sport of rugby league."

The development comes as the Government's flagship education policy is to expand the academies system and create new "free schools".

The move has, however, proved controversial, and strained relationships between the coalition parties.

During the passage of the legislation making the reforms six Liberal Democrat MPs rebelled against the coalition Government to back a call to allow parents to be balloted if a school governor objected to it becoming an academy.

The issue is likely to expose further divisions at next month's Lib Dem conference, where a policy motion calls on party members to oppose the creation of free schools as they risk "increasing social divisiveness and inequity".