Wakefield Trinity launch girls' academy

The academy will give girls an opportunity to step up to Super League from the Under-16 community game.

The entire Women’s Super League competition in 2020 was written off because of coronavirus, but the Rugby Football League hope to stage a full season before next year’s World Cup.

Trinity’s head of women’s rugby, James Stephenson, said: “I am really pleased we are finally able to get the ladies’ academy up and running.

“We have had plans in place for this for a while now and obviously with this year going the way it has, everything has been delayed.

“To be able to further help develop female athletes in a performance environment and condition them both mentally and physically to the demands of what Women’s Super League brings will give any player an additional edge.”

Stephenson added: “I’m looking forward to working with our community clubs with close dialogue and identifying players along with offering substantial support to our community teams.

“We hope to help further contribute towards the growth and development of women’s rugby league, especially with the World Cup on the horizon at the back end of 2021.”

Trinity’s academy are set to begin training alongside the women’s team in January or February.

Girls aged 16 to 19 who are interested in joining the new set up should email their name, age, date of birth, community club and position to [email protected].

Trinity are also seeking coaches and managers from the community game to join their academy development academy staff. The same email address is also available for open-age players interested in taking part in trials for Trinity’s Women’s Super League side.

Trialists will join the current playing group for skills, conditioning, technical and tactical drills and individual player reviews over a four-week period in the new year.