Saints and Hornets form unique partnership

Hercules the Hornet - Hornets Rugby League Mascot

Rochdale Hornets and St Helens RFC have agreed a unique partnership between the two clubs.

St Helens are one of the most successful clubs in the modern game, winning the Super League, World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cups on numerous occasions.

Rochdale Hornets are one of the game's founding clubs. They have just finished filming a documentary for Channel 4 and their home ground Spotland Stadium has been granted a fixture in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup which will see Fiji take on Ireland.

The partnership will see rising young stars in the St Helens’ squad get the opportunity to play at a professional level on a regular basis. The Saints will supply up to five players for each of Hornets’ games.

Mike Rush, General Manager at St Helens said ‘It will be invaluable competitive experience for players who could be our stars of the future. We have looked at several clubs in Championship and Championship 1, but we really like what we see at Hornets. The quality of Spotland stadium is a big plus for us, and the co-operative members’ basis of the club tells us there is real commitment.’

The ultra modern training facilities at St Helens will be open to the Hornets’ squad to supplement the local venues, and Hornets have agreed with the Saints’ recommendation of up and coming young coach Ian Talbot as heading up the coaching team for the 2013 season. He will be supported by former Hornets favourite Matt Calland, who will become Head of Youth Development at the Spotland outfit.

Saints will also support the squad with coaches in specialist fields such as Strength and conditioning, video analysis and other disciplines. Coaches Glynn Walsh and Rugby League legend Steve Prescott will lead in these areas. Rochdale Rugby League stalwart Dave Ramsbottom completes the impressive coaching set up.

Hornets’ Chairman Mark Wynn said: ‘We are thrilled by this partnership. It is an opportunity not just for Hornets but for Rugby League as a whole in Rochdale. Any ambitious youngster in the town can now see a path which leads right to the very top of the game.

Off the field the partnership will also see shared best practice, assistance with marketing, commercial activities including sponsorship and lottery plus cross ticketing initiatives.’

Rochdale Hornets RLFC
Spotland Stadium, Sandy Lane, Rochdale, OL11 5DS
Tel: 01706 648004, Fax 01706 344545
www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk