Cramlington to compete in Yorkshire league

Cramlington Rockets’ Under-16s squad will compete in the Yorkshire Junior & Youth Premier Division this season.

The Under-16s will take part in the ten-team league against teams in the heartlands of Rugby League.

It is a historic move for a North East club and all the more so having been accepted into the Premier Division.

The Rockets have dominated the North East competition in recent years and 13 players in the Newcastle Thunder academy have previously played for the Rockets, with three former players gaining international honours in the last year.

Jeff Ball, Rockets chairman, 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’s going to be a fascinating season that really pushes them to their limits.”

Cramlington will still have the Under-16s Orange squad competing in the North East league.

Ball added: “We’re incredibly blessed by how many quality players we have at the club at this age and the Orange squad will I’m sure be challenging for top spot come the end of the season.

“Add to that the development of the Under-14s, the work happening at Under-12s and below and an open age side is looking to improve on its Grand Final appearance in 2017. It is set to be another entertaining year.”