Grayson recognises the hard work done by Panthers and Calderdale College
Continued from back
David Grayson, Halifax Panthers Managing Director, added: “This accreditation is testimony to the hard work done by both Calderdale College and Halifax Panthers over a number of years now.
“The recent introduction of being able to study for a trade as well as a sporting qualification is a game changing unique selling point, and this has been reflected in the growing numbers of student participation.”
For more information regarding the Halifax Panthers Rugby Academy email Andy Holleyhead
at andy.holleyhead@calderdale.ac.uk or apply at calderdale.ac.uk/apply
■ Rugby League Cares is enhancing its support for players who are approaching, or who have recently reached the end of their playing careers by recruiting a team of highly skilled player mentors.
The charity’s newly-designed Player Mentor Programme sets out to smooth many of the difficulties players often face when it comes to forging new careers away from sport.
The mentors will also provide support to help players tackle any major issues they face at this important time, such as addressing long-standing injury health problems, accessing education programmes and entering the world of business.
Professional athletes face retirement twice in their working lives, once in their late-20s or early-30s and then again when they reach the ‘traditional’ retirement age.
For all the planning and preparation that most players undertake during their rugby careers, much of it with the full support of RL Cares, some inevitably struggle to come to terms with life outside the confines of the sporting world.
RL Cares already works with organisations like Sporting Chance to provide support to players experiencing severe emotional and physical trauma caused by their forced change in lifestyle.
And from the spring of 2021, that support will be complemented by the eight-strong player mentor team, all of whom are themselves former professional players who have experience the challenges of ‘reinventing’ themselves after hanging up their boots.