New Hull rugby club 'will offer chance to play in both Union and League'

Hull Knights under-12s training at Chanterlands Avenue
-Credit:Justin Knaggs


A new rugby club has started its first under-12s and under-8s sessions and its founder has ambitious plans for the future.

Justin Knaggs, Chief Executive Officer of Hull Knights RL, said: "We couldn't start training January but everything is looking really good. The idea is to do a complete Grass Roots pathway, which nobody is doing in the country, for Rugby League and Rugby Union.

"We are based in Chanterlands Avenue at Hull Rugby Union Club. The chairman Jeremy is a lovely guy. He can't believe it, every time I see him I have more news for him and he's like 'Wow'.

"This is pretty much like a sleeping giant ready to wake up. I want to set up a completely new legacy. My lad wanted to try a new club out and in December he asked me if I'd set up my own rugby team and I thought, 'It's going to take a lot of doing.'"

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But by the next month, the new under-8 and and under-12 teams were having their first training sessions. Justin said he "build up the right network around me and asked the right people" and the new rugby club "just took off".

Justin said the Chanterlands Avenue location is ideal because it is so central in Hull and "everyone is welcome". Going forward, he wants an under-6s right up to the under-18s.

"By the next season I hope to have every age group," he said. The talented coaches Justin has brought onboard include Maea David, who played for Hull FC, and John Okul, who played for Hull KR.

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Justin said there was a need for the youth clubs in Hull and said it helping boys "get out their bedrooms, off their Xboxes and PlayStations and onto the rugby field".

He added: "We are turning lives around because we are giving kids confidence to go out. There are not a lot of social skills out there now because of social media so it;s good to get them out there and get some exercise and the kids are absolutely loving it."

Anyone who would like their child to join the club can contact Justin Knaggs on 07377 534037.