For Year 11 students collecting GCSE results today, it’s not too late to consider Hull FC’s Sports College for the 2023/24 academic year, with applications still open.
The Sports College, based at the University of Hull campus, educates young people with all kinds of different career aspirations, including Rugby League players, sports coaches and physiotherapists.
Last week, Hull FC had nine representatives playing for Yorkshire Academy in the final match of the War of the Roses Origin series at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington – seven of which are current students at the Sports College, with the other two recently graduating.
First-year Academy player Will Hutchinson, who played at hooker for Yorkshire, explains how the Sports College has given him all of the necessary tools to play Rugby League at an elite level.
“I do think the college programme has given me a great shot at rugby because it gives you the chance to do so much extra training,” he said.
“Some of the other lads in the Academy have apprenticeships, so they’re missing out on some of the stuff that us guys at the college have the luxury of like gym sessions or a skill drill.
“Especially in pre-season, we got to do a lot of extra fitness with Kieran Smith (Strength & Conditioning Coach). My fitness was quite poor during the off-season, so I definitely feel like being at the college has played a massive part in helping my development.”
Hutchinson’s first-year Academy team mate Lennon Clark also featured for Yorkshire at the weekend.
He believes that the education provided at the Sports College has helped him become a better athlete.
“The Sports College is really good for teaching you about the deeper meaning of the body for sports people, so it’s good for people who have aspirations to become an athlete, or those people who want to study sports medicine, physiotherapy, rehabilitation – that kind of thing,” he explained.
“For me, I have found learning about the nutritional aspects of being an athlete really beneficial. That has been the difference from me performing at an OK level to a top level.
“It’s also a really good opportunity to put yourself in the window for the Academy with the regular games that the Sports College play on Wednesday afternoons.
“It’s how I got picked up by the Academy, and I know there are a couple of other lads who also got selected for the Academy by playing College Rugby League, so there are great opportunities there.”
Applications for the 2023/24 academic year at the Sports College are open here.
Click here for more information on the Sports College.
If you require further information, please email jack.lazenby@hullfc.com.
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