A pre-contract agreement with this season's Grand Final winners in the Super League, Leeds Rhinos, is a huge step for Egremont Rangers Rugby League Club young wing forward, Jared Stewart. "It really doesn't get much better than that," comments the club's head of youth development, John Wells, and is striking evidence of the success of the youth development programme in "developing young players to be the best they can be within an enjoyable, disciplined, professional environment." Jared and his friend James Mcdonald, who have both been selected for the England Under 16 squad, as we reported in our October edition, are both waiting to hear if they have been included in the final 20 players to represent England against France in February.
His father, Ian, tells us that Jared will be leaving St Benedict's after taking his GCSEs to study for A-levels at Park Lane College in Leeds and and serve his apprenticeship with Leeds Rhinos, playing for their Gillette Academy squad, the youth super league. After earlier playing Rugby Union up to County level, Jared had turned down a tempting offer from Newcastle Falcons to train with their youth squad because his passion for Rugby League was even greater. He had joined Egremont Rangers because of the outstanding coaching which the club offered, with exceptional support from John Brocklebank and John Wells.
The Rangers Under 16 team are sitting near the top of the league, with games in hand, while the Under 18 team is about to commence battle in the County Cup Final against Walney Central, Barrow. This team includes some exceptional talent with Jack Murray, Mark Reid, Alistair Leak, Blake Mahovic, Paul Corkhill, Dale Horn, Kyle Hiddlestone and Callum Cunliffe already having represented the club's open age first team this season.
The U14s team is also going really well and is heavily represented at Service Area and Regional squads with some outstanding talent. All three of the teams above will be competing in the BARLA National Cup as we go to press, the U18s having a tough trip away to Siddal whilst the U16s and U14s have home ties with Featherstone Lions and Rodley Rockets (Bradford) respectively.
John Wells appeals to Egremont to find the time to come along to matches and support these young Egremontonians, helping them to be proud of our town.