Hull FC have today launched an exciting global partnership with Canada Rugby League, which will see the club gain exclusive access to the country’s top rugby league talent.
Rugby League is one of the fastest growing sports in Canada, with the Stobart Super League and NRL already demanding significant television viewing figures on their national channel, in line with the domestic programming available in the United Kingdom.
The Black and Whites will now look to support this staggering growth, with a pioneering international link up that will not only see the club provide valuable club information, support and staff development, but also the opportunity to sign the country’s brightest young talent.
Canada Rugby League will select the best 18-22 year old players in their competition, with some lucky athletes offered the opportunity of a month’s placement at Hull FC working with their players and coaches.
Speaking to www.hullfc.com about the partnership, Hull FC’s Director of Rugby, Shaun McRae, commented, “This is an exciting partnership for the club and one that will provide us with the opportunity to evaluate a previously untapped talent pool of players.
“Whilst Canada is still a developing rugby league nation, it’s currently one the fastest growing countries for the game around the world and certainly home to some tremendous athletes who are already heavily influenced by sports such as Ice Hockey and Canadian Football.
“From a Hull FC point of view, the club will be able to offer them invaluable advice and support when it comes to growing their individual clubs and the sport as a whole, whilst there is no doubt that their players will certainly enhance their development by spending time with us here in England.
“You never know, we may also uncover some hidden gems along the way and blood some of Canada’s first ever Super League stars.”
CRL was only established less than two years ago, but in that time they have gone on to operate nine clubs in Ontario and BC. As well as that, the national side, Canada Wolverines, have been ranked 21st in the world and now have their eyes set on World Cup qualification in future years, having recently claimed the scalp of neighbours USA, a side that includes players with Australian heritage.
The match between the rival nations drew a television audience of over one million viewers, whilst they also take part in an annual showpiece against Jamaica as part of their commitment as an official partner to the Caribbean Carnvial Toronto, one of the biggest street festivals in North America that guarantees similar viewing figures, attendances and grosses half a billion dollars over one weekend.
It’s hoped that Rugby League can continue to grow and flourish within Canada much as it has been over the past 19 months, as explained by CRL Chairman, Eric Perez.
“This is an immense opportunity for any aspiring young athletes across Canada. It’s not every day that you hear about a Canadian elite athlete having the opportunity to train in Super League with one of the sports premier clubs like Hull FC.
“We are extremely excited about working with a great forward thinking club like Hull FC. There are a lot of next level athletes in Canada. And Rugby League is a natural extension of our sporting culture. You can expect to see some very talented players emerging from this partnership,” said Perez, who knows Super League well, having fallen in love with the sport during his time living in Birmingham.
“The passion for our game at Hull FC amongst the staff, players, and above all the great fans of the black and whites make it the perfect partner for development.”
Perez now hosts and produces along with Cory Tukeli, CRL’s President, the popular Canadian 1 hour rugby league program ‘The Rugby League Show’ which is on from Feb-Oct every Thursday night in prime time.
Currently in its second season it can boast being the only highlight program globally that features extended highlights from Super League and the NRL. The show also features news notes and highlights from CRL and specifically the Canada Wolverines. It is another initiative displaying CRL’s modern approach to building the sport within Canada.
However, the major part of the new relationship will be the development of homegrown Canadian rugby league talent and the opportunity for the cream of the crop to test themselves in Super League.
CRL’s Technical Director, Jamie Lester, said, “The most ideal scenario would be for the selected recipient to impress the Hull FC coaching staff and subsequently be offered a contract to continue their stay with the club.
“Wouldn’t it be great to have our first born and bred Canadian wearing the famous black and white hoops in the 2013 Stobart Super League? This is the sort of stuff that we want Canadian rugby league players to dream about, and one day make a reality”.
The first young player to join the Black and Whites on a one-month placement will arrive in July, with a number of players currently in Canada vying for the coveted spot.
To qualify for the scholarship, players must be under the age of 22 and available to play in the 2012 CRL Ontario and British Columbia Championships which began on Sunday, May 6th.