Featherstone relaunch reserves for 2019

Featherstone have relaunched a reserve side for the 2019 season.

Former York City Knights, Keighley Cougars and Hunslet boss Paul March has been appointed as the head coach of the second-string side.

March is currently a rugby league development officer for the Featherstone Rovers foundation and this role will be added to his existing work on the club’s player development pathways.

On the relaunch of the reserves, March said: “We need to grow a greater pool of players for this club and having all the pathways through to the first-team will allow that.

“Obviously, it gives a pathway from my Under-14s ETP, to my Category 3 Academy at NEW College Pontefract, to the reserves and then we’ll hopefully get a few players into the first-team.

“You looked at the end of last year, where the first-team sometimes only had 14 or 15 players.

“Some of these lads who will come into the reserves would gave got an opportunity last year and then you’re not putting pressure on the first-team squad to play when they’re injured, so it’s massive for player welfare.”

Featherstone coach John Duffy is a huge advocate of reserve structures and is glad Rovers have got one now.

He said: “We want to bring our own players through.

“Marchy knows the amateur game, so that should work well, plus there’ll be competition for places in our first-team as well.

“I know from speaking to the fans that they wanted this back and hopefully they all buy into it and can do a bit of fundraising for us as well.”