Hull FC make latest signing as edge forward commits future to club

Hull FC have signed Will Kirby up to a first-team deal for the 2025 season and beyond. Hull Live understands the Black and Whites moved quickly earlier this year to tie up the back-row forward, having impressed in numerous academy and reserves performances this season.

A fiery edge player who can also double up as a middle, Kirby made his Super League debut at Salford Red Devils last Sunday. The 18-year-old started on the right edge, capping a strong rise this year as the third locally produced player to feature for the senior side.

Kirby, a Hull Wyke junior, follows on from Jack Charles and Logan Moy, who have also signed new contracts this year after eye-catching displays in the senior side. Elsewhere, Lewis Martin, Davy Litten, Harvey Barron, Matty Laidlaw, Zach Jebson, and Denive Balmforth have all extended their deals.

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Kirby, meanwhile, who has grown under Emerging Talent Coach, Francis Cummins, this year, was also on standby for England Academy last week, with the forward just missing out on selection to Paul Anderson's squad.

He is the second current academy player to sign a first-team for the 2025 season, following on from Roman Dawson. The young outside back, as exclusively reported by Hull Live this April, has signed a senior deal, with Hull looking to continue their ongoing youth trajectory with more academy promotions to the first-team squad expected.

The club have heavily invested in their youth department and are confident of bringing through quality players into Super League, as demonstrated by the promise shown by several of their young talents this year. A brand new hub is almost complete at their University of Hull training ground, with Richard Tate continuing the solid work done by Pete Riding as the club's new Head of Youth.

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