Hull FC confirm academy intake including son of club legend and brother of first-team player
Hull FC have confirmed their new academy players for the 2025 season, including the son of a club legend and the brother of a current first-team player. The players will continue on the club's Centre of Excellence program with the academy, which have seen the likes of Jack Charles, Will Kirby, Callum Kemp, and Ryan Westerman all debut in the first-team this year, finishing in the top-four in each of the last three seasons.
In total, 15 players have made the step up, 13 of whom have progressed from the club's scholarship programme. They signed their registration papers last Saturday and were presented to the MKM Stadium during Hull FC's last Super League match of the season
The latest batch of talent includes Josh Horne, the son of Hull FC legend Richard Horne. Like his dad, Josh is a speedy half-back that knows his way to the try-line. Elsewhere, Jake Staveley, the younger brother of first-team player Nick Staveley, will also join the club. Staveley Jnr is joined by Preston Ward in coming to Hull from further afield. Ward was previously on the London Broncos system, with Jackson Smith, a scholars player who hails from Cumbria, also making the step up.
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"It’s a really exciting group of youngsters," Tate said on Hull FC's new academy intake. "They have already made great strides in terms of their own youth development through our Scholarship programme, and through the conversations that I have held with the players, I am really encouraged by their drive, determination and ambition to continue their development as they look to work towards forging careers as professional Hull FC players.
"At the Centre of Excellence, our Academy players are in the best possible hands with our youth development staff, alongside the brilliant facilities provided by the University of Hull. I’m really looking forward to continuing to work with Francis Cummins as our Head of Emerging Talent to help nurture this group of players over a big two-year period in their careers.”
The full 15 players to join the academy
Ellis Chapman – East Hull
Thomas Cheshire – Cottingham Tigers
Finlay Davies – Myton Warriors
Vincent Donnachie – West Hull
Tyler Eccles – Myton Warriors
Leon Hayward – Cottingham Tigers
Josh Horne – Skirlaugh
Rio Kassim – Skirlaugh
Zak Nelson-Hewitt – Skirlaugh
Kirils Prigorkins – Cottingham Tigers
Jackson Smith – Hensingham
Jake Staveley – Oulton Raiders
Preston Ward – Elmbridge Eagles
Finley Wilson – East Hull
Rhys Yorke – Myton Warriors
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