Rockets in a new league or their own

ONE of Cramlington Rockets’ junior teams will spend the 2018 season competing in the Yorkshire Junior and Youth Premier Division.

The under-16 Black squad of the current Rugby Foootball League Club of the Year will take part in the ten-team league against some of the biggest names in amateur rugby league.

It is a historic move for a North East side, all the more so given they have been accepted into the Premier Division - arguably the highest level for under-16s in the UK.

The development of the Northumberland-based Rockets team in recent years has been impressive, dominating the North East competition and taking on a number of the country’s leading sides in friendlies and, more recently in 2018, as part of an ongoing BARLA National Cup campaign.

With 13 of the squad a part of the Newcastle Thunder Academy and three players having gained international honours in the last year, it is a team which promises to be a challenge for all it faces.

Coach Jordan Robinson said: “It is about getting the players to the right level of competition.

“They have shown themselves capable of competing at the highest level on an occasional basis - now we will see if they can do it all season.”

Rockets’ chairman Jeff Ball (pictured left) said: “This is a big move for the club.

“A lot of credit must go to the team’s coaches who have really pushed the development of the players, but also to the players’ families who have been very supportive.

“This is the last year of junior rugby for the majority of the squad and it is going to be a fascinating season which really pushes them to their limits.”

The move means the Rockets will still have one side competing in the North East League - the under-16s’ Orange squad.

Ball added: “We are incredibly blessed by how many quality players we have at the club at this age group.

“The Orange squad will I am sure be challenging for top spot come the end of the season. It is set to be another great year.”