The new club wants to provide opportunities in both Rugby League and Rugby Union
A rugby club founded in January already has 80 youth players and plans to get “bigger and better”. Hull Knights was formed with the ethos of a family-friendly community club where everyone is welcome.
Justin Knaggs, Chief Executive Officer of Hull Knights RL, initially started it as a charity team that raised £3,000 at its first game. It has “snowballed” in popularity ever since and offers the chance to play both Rugby League and Rugby Union.
Previously based at Hull YPI Sports Centre in Chanterlands Avenue, Hull Knights has moved to Hessle RUFC’s grounds. Justin Knaggs, said playing at the new grounds has been “fantastic”.
He told the Hull Daily Mail: “We’ve gone from a charity team, we still raise money, but now we’ve started a brand-new rugby club in Hull for every age group from children through to adults. It is massive now.
“It has just really took off massively and we’ve got 80 children already onboard in just eight months. I want it to get bigger and better and there is no reason it can’t.”
Justin said the reception from the people of Hessle has been “warm and very nice”, with businesses already offering to be sponsors. “The community is getting behind us,” he said.
Hull Knights is currently offering rugby for under 8s (year 3) under 12s (year 7) Mini-Knights (ages five and six), and a development team of under 11s (year 6) and an under 16s. Justin wants to build every age group, including an open-age team for men and a Master’s team for older men.
Justin added: “What we’re going to do, at our rugby club, is play both codes: we’re going to play Rugby League and Rugby Union. So the kids will play Rugby League in the summer and Hessle Rugby Union in the winter time.
“It is a good opportunity for everybody, really. All the way around the clock, everyone can be doing something.”
Justin said he is still recruiting players and coaches and “everyone is welcome”. He said it was the “best thing I have ever done”, and something he’d wanted to do since he gave up playing rugby at 27 years old.
He added: “I don’t want it cliquey or toxic like other clubs I have been in the past, I just want it to be somewhere everyone can be at home.” Hull Knights is on Instagram and Facebook.
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