Tigers welcome 2023/24 Scholarship recruits

Castleford Tigers are thrilled to be welcoming eighteen new Scholarship players into our youth programme for 2023/24!

The Fords’ new group of Scholars will officially get started at The Jungle as the club’s Under 15s from the 1st of August when they will start their journey with the aim of becoming Cas First Team stars in the future.

Castleford has an incredibly proud tradition of producing and developing youngsters and moulding them into Super League talents. This year the likes of Sam Hall, Jason Qareqare, and Cain Robb have all clocked up regular minutes in the Tigers senior side and continue to don the Cas badge with pride.

Furthermore, 2023 has seen a number of young Academy players run out and shine for the club’s Reserves team as their development continues to grow by playing alongside and learning from a number of senior players.

On Thursday, 20th July, the Tigers welcomed their latest intake of Scholarship talent as the club invited players, families, friends, and coaches to The Jungle for a special Signing Night.

The evening began with an introductory talk by our Youth staff as well as Director of Rugby Operations, Danny Wilson. Then it was time for the youngsters to head down to the Chairman’s Lounge where they officially signed their contracts alongside Cas Head Coach Andy Last.

Reflecting on a memorable night, Cas’ Head of Youth Development Rob Nickolay began by explaining the importance of rewarding the efforts of the players, families, and community clubs up to this point.

“It’s fantastic to meet the families and spend time with them and celebrate their achievements up until this point. They have all achieved something up until now and a big part of the evening is celebrating the support that the boys have had from their community clubs and their families.

“It’s a testament to all the work that is been done at the community level to have those boys pushing through at our local clubs.

“We are a family club, and we want to be celebrating our community. On the night we are the first friendly face of the club to show that we are there to support them. It’s really important to start their journey in the best way.”

As mentioned earlier, the new Scholarship recruits will officially start life as Tigers in a couple of weeks’ time and Nickolay stated just how much he and the rest of the coaching staff are looking forward to working with them in the future.

“All of the coaches are excited to start working with the boys. Special mention to Steve Copley our Head of Talent ID & Recruitment and Matty Faulkner who is our Player Performance Manager because they have done a great job in sourcing those boys from the local area.

“They are an exciting bunch, and we are all looking forward to working with them.”

Local clubs Lock Lane and Kippax Welfare fought it out in the Yorkshire Cup Final recently with a number of those players involved joining the Cas ranks this year.

In closing, the Fords’ Head of Youth Development outlined that it displays the club’s intentions of identifying and nurturing the best talent from the local area.

“We’ve got a big contingent from Lock Lane and Kippax who were in the Yorkshire Cup Final against each other at that age group. To see them mingling is really pleasing and it shows we are going after the best talent in the local area.”

Congratulations and welcome to Castleford Tigers our 2023/24 Scholarship recruits, who are listed below alongside the community club and school where they join us from.

• Alex Horton: Lock Lane – The Snaith School
• Alfie Morgan: Featherstone Lions – Featherstone Academy
• Bayley Jones: Heworth - Woldgate School and Sixth form
• Cayden Rooney: Featherstone Lions – Featherstone Academy
• Eroni Uluilakeba: Lock Lane – Featherstone Academy
• Jack Spurr: Featherstone Lions – Carleton High
• Joseph Huskins: Bronte Barbarians – St Thomas a Becket
• Josh Hawkin: Kippax Welfare – Airedale Academy
• Josh Hepworth: Heworth – Joseph Rowntree
• Josh Sundin: Lock Lane – St Wilfrids
• Kane McNamara: Kippax Welfare – Brigshaw High
• Louie Adamson: Lock Lane – Freeston Academy
• Makenzie Kesik: Lock Lane – Castleford Academy
• Noah Handley: Heworth – Huntington Secondary School
• Noah Lazenby: Kippax Welfare – Sherburn High
• Oliver Carter: Normanton Knights – Freeston Academy
• Sebastian Whiteley: Lock Lane – Woodkirk Academy
• Silas Mulase: Heworth – Huntington Secondary School
   

You could sponsor one of our Scholarship players and support Castleford Tigers Foundation at the same time! Email laurakirk@castigers.com to enquire.