Young hopefuls join scheme

A DOZEN new boys from all over rugby league’s heartland have accepted invitations to join Oldham RL Club’s Extended Scholarship squad in the coming season.

They will be added to last year’s group, most of whom are still eligible for the under-18s competition and have confirmed their allegiance to Roughyeds for a second summer of youth rugby.

Each of the newcomers, who include some locals, has had experience of life as a scholar at a Super League club.

Young players and their parents met up for the first time at Whitebank last night to hear club chairman Chris Hamilton and scholarship coach Phil Costin outline what Roughyeds could offer them in terms of opportunities.

Hamilton: “It was another great turn-out of players and parents.

“We outlined what the club was trying to achieve by becoming one of the few to grasp this concept, and we pointed out the opportunities that exist for talented young players in a club like ours.”

The scholarship squad starts pre-season training on Saturday in readiness for a campaign of six matches — two more than last year — to be played during a period from April to July.

Costin will continue to coach the side.

His young hopefuls will play Keighley, Hunslet, Halifax, York and Leigh once each, plus one of the teams twice to make six games in total.