Local boost for Rugby League

Link4Life's John Taylor and Hornets CEO Mike Banks shake hands on the great new deal to promote grassroots Rugby League, pictured with, left, Patrick Doyle and David Eastham, participants in this weeks Rochdale Rugby League Schools Festival

Rugby League in the Rochdale Borough is set for a further boost thanks to new investment from Hornets RL and Link4Life.

Link4Life, the trust responsible for leisure and culture within the borough, and the newly reformed Hornets have embarked on a new partnership which will see two new development staff working to develop Rugby League.

Link4Life has secured funding from the Rugby Football League and will employ a Community Rugby League Coach. Hornets are to employ a Community Development Officer who will also work with schools, youth groups and community clubs within the area to grow the game.

Both posts have now been filled with Danny Pyke taking on the coaching role and Terri Davey the development post.

Danny Pyke has previously worked part time for Wigan Warriors and Link4Life amongst others as well as playing for the Warriors, Edge Hill University and Great Britain students.

A fellow Wigan-er, Terri Davey, has worked on numerous community initiatives with Wigan Warriors and plays for local side, and current women’s rugby league conference champions, Littleborough Hillside Ladies.

Ryan Bradley, RFL/Link4Life’s Rugby League development officer commented: “It is fantastic that both Link4Life and the Hornets are working together for the good of the game within the borough. We will now see more development staff than ever on the ground in the Rochdale borough and this will significantly benefit the game at all levels”.

Mike Banks, Hornets CEO added: “Since coming into the new era we have had a strong working relationship with Link4Life. We look forward to working closely together in the future for the mutual benefit of the game”.

The two organisations are marking their joint working relationship with Hornets displaying the Link4Life logo on the sleeve of both the home and away shirts in the current season.

John Taylor, Head of Sport & Leisure for Link4Life commented: “Link4Life is committed to increasing opportunities to participate in sport in the borough and our relationship with Hornets builds on other strong partnership working with clubs, schools, groups and individuals to ensure that there is a thriving local sports network in this borough. We can look forward to some exciting progress now within Rugby League.”