Six community RL clubs have joined forces in an unprecedented partnership to bring winter rugby league back to Huddersfield.
Moldgreen ARLFC, Underbank Rangers, Newsome Panthers, Lindley St Josephs, Almondbury Spartans and Emley Moor have teamed up to form Huddersfield Sharks.
The Sharks play in the Pennine League and have made an unbeaten start to the season, also reaching the semi-final of the BARLA Yorkshire Cup.
Players from all the clubs, who now play summer rugby, have bought into the new venture with those who want to play the winter game putting their names forward.
The Sharks have an experienced coaching team of Ireland international and Huddersfield Giants star Harry Rushton, Aidan McGowan, who led Lindley St Josephs to the league title last season, and Jamaican international Kieran Rush, who led Moldgreen to a Grand Final victory.
Harry, Aidan and Kieran are supported by coaches from the various community clubs.
Antony Collins, chairman at Moldgreen, said the idea of a joint winter team had been suggested before by Jayden Covell and Chris Clarke and the clubs came together very quickly to make it happen in September.
“All the clubs coming together like this has never happened before,” said Antony. “All the clubs are involved and contributing players and we’re gaining some good traction. Rivalries are parked at the side of the pitch and everyone’s enjoying it.”
The Sharks will play ‘home’ games around all the six grounds and on Saturday (November 2) the Sharks play Cutsyke Raiders at Underbank (2pm kick off).
For former Wigan Warriors and Canberra Raiders forward Harry Rushton, 22, it’s a first step into coaching and Harry said: “It’s something I’ve wanted to get into for a while now and living locally it makes sense to get involved.
“With no teams from Huddersfield playing in the Pennine winter league it was a great opportunity to showcase the talent that is here right under our noses – and so far it is proving a massive hit on and off the pitch.”
Not only have coaches, support staff and players got on board so have sponsors with YOU Financial, Smart Eire Guard Solutions and The FM Company helping the team get off the ground.
The Sharks committee are: Antony Collins, Chris Clarke, Niel Sykes, Jay Senior, Craig Gledhill, Jayden Covell, Jacob Craven, Andy Lambert, Rob Salmon and Jason Southwell.
