Wolves Continue To Invest In Young Talent
Warrington Wolves celebrated the future of the club this week at the official Scholarship Launch at Warrington Collegiate.
Every year the club works hard to identify talented young players to enter the Wolves' Scholarship programme. The Warrington Wolves Scholarship is the first step on the professional pathway for players to progress towards Super League. Following Scholarship, those players good enough to get signed move up to the U18 Academy, then onto the U20 Academy. The most talented Warrington Wolves junior contracted players enter our first grade preparation squad "WOLFPACK" and ultimately should be targetting first grade rugby at Warrington Wolves.
Those players joining the under 15s and under 16s programme 2010-11 were presented with their welcome training packs by club Chairman Steven Broomhead, and were also given the opportunity to watch video footage reflecting on the academy season and look ahead to their ultimate goal of a Challenge Cup Final.
Chief Executive Andy Gatcliffe was also in attendance to welcome the new crop of players. The club is highly committed to investing in and supporting the young homegrown talent.
Andy Gatcliffe said: "The launch was a very professional and well managed night and full credit must go to Ben Lazenby and John Bastian. The young players were excited and delighted to hear from John that in previous years 10 to 14 players have picked up contracts as a result of being part of the scholarship here at the Wolves showing that the prize is there to be had. The support given to these youngsters by the club, development staff and parents is of paramount importance to the future of them as people and players. The environment they have been brought into is, I believe, second to none, and we wish them all the best and ask them to seize every opportunity presented to them."
Others at the event included under 15s coach Danny Fullerton and under 16s coach Lee Westwood, Director of Youth Development John Bastian, Player Performance Manager Ben Lazenby, Head of Junior Sports Science and Junior Strength & Conditioning Dave Sykes as well as Talent ID manager Peter Farrell.
Wolves' Director of Youth Development commented: "It's great to welcome the scholarship players and staff back at the start of a new and exciting year ahead of us. Most of the under 16 players have been retained and we have added some additional young talent to the squad of players. We have high hopes for many of the under 16s leading into the 2011 season. The more dedication these players can show will have a bearing on their development outcomes. This year's under 15s team will be a rebuilding process with new additions to the existing squad in preparation for the 2011 season. The young players that we have on board fit the criteria that we are looking for at Warrington Wolves, hard working young men who have aspirations of being part of our long term future and plans.
"The presentation and organisation of the evening by Ben Lazenby and the scholarship staff was of a very high standard and made for an enjoyable evening."
The Scholarship programme is fully supported by and works in conjunction with a range of organisations including: Warrington Collegiate, Warrington & Cheshire Service Area, Birchwood High School. Warrington Collegiate, University of Chester, Squadbuilder, Vice Presidents Assocation, ASICS, IDH Woolston Dental Practice and the RFL.
Warrington Wolves work closely with the University of Chester and its students. Ken Green, Head of Sports & Exercise Science Deptartment, said: "The launch of the scholarship scheme for 2010-11 provided an excellent illustration of the ways in which University of Chester students can play a significant role in delivering the latest in sports science support to the many up-and-coming youngsters on the Wolves' roster. In this regard, the partnership between the Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences at the University and Warrington Wolves is at the cutting edge of the development of young elite athletes."
Other special guests present at the launch evening were Barrie-Jon Mather (Head of Player Development for the RFL), Dave Elliott (National Youth Coach - RFL), Alan Yates (Headteacher of Gt Sankey High School), Hilary Steel (representing North West Counties and the Community Game), Frank Hawley (Referee Society), Mike Stoddart (Warrington Collegiate), Ken Green (Head of Sports & Exercise Science Dept. - University of Chester) and Eileen Fisher (Warrington Vice-Presidents Association).
09, Sep, 2010
