Giants sign teenage star in first for club

HUDDERSFIELD Giants have signed their first overseas academy player.

Ronan Michael has joined the club, having played for Ireland in the Under-19 European Championships earlier this year.

He made his debut for the Longhorns club in north east Leinster in May.

“He’s an Ireland Under-19 player who has invested in himself, he’s come over here to show us what he might have,” said Giants’ head of youth Andy Kelly.

“Just based on some promise and performances, we’re able to sign our first overseas academy player.”

The Giants, whose Under-19s finished in the top four last season, have retained several members of their academy for next season.

“We’ve recently retained Alfie Copley, Lucas Hallas, Jack Flynn and Ross Whitmore who will go on to their third year,” said Kelly.

“There are a couple of players that will leave us, but I’d like to thank them for the time they’ve invested and I hope they go on to good things.

“I know Tom Hugill has got a job, which is fantastic for him, and Connor Murphy is going to Leeds Beckett University so again the system supports progression, and if it isn’t going on to the third year of academy or senior team, then it’s about the contingencies coming into play.

“It’s really exciting for those players and we wish them well.

“It’s hard as a head of youth and a coach when you look at succession and what the first-team need and are going to take.

“We say at the very beginning and are quite explicit in saying that given you may get to the end of that fiveyear period there’s not always going to be a chance to go forward with us.

“We’ve built a nice platform and we’ve just got to keep building on it now.

“It’s simple – the players who have learned about the rigours, intensity and robustness of a season when you finish in the top four should be wiser for it and, hopefully, we’ve got another platform to compete around that area next season.

“Unfortunately, the cyclic nature of academy rugby means that might not be the case, but we’ll see.

“We’ve had our scholarship induction for the new under-15s, who are coming in to join the current under-16s, the retention of second year academy players into third year, and the intention or release of players from the third year where their journeys have been five-years long.

“A special mention must go to Jack Richardson, Jamie Greenwood and Tyllar Mellor, who will all be looking to join other clubs and we wish them well.

“We’re so grateful for their investment over the past five years with the academy and scholarship. They’re players who if we had a broader spectrum for them to continue their development in, they’d probably be continuing with the club – but I’ve already been contacted by other clubs regarding their capabilities and services.

“I’m really pleased that people are interested in them. That’s another measure of our academy – we set out to have an academy where if we don’t keep players because succession doesn’t allow, then we’d like those players to go on and play in the Super League or Championship.

“We will always be grateful to every player that comes into the system.”