Bourouh ban update, Bailey injury, loan moves, and more – the latest Hull FC notebook.
Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh.(Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh has been cleared to play for their next Super League game at Bradford Bulls on May 17. Elsewhere, there is bad news with Connor Bailey’s collarbone break confirmed, while the academy and scholarship sides were both in action before the Bank Holiday weekend. Here is the latest notebook:
Bourouh cleared to play
Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh will be free to play at Bradford Bulls on May 17 despite picking up a one game suspension. Bourouh was handed a Grade C head contact offence and subsequently handed five penalty points, taking his disciplinary total over the threshold for a one game ban. The incident was penalised at the time, with Bourouh involved in a head on head contact with Toulouse Olympique player Jake Shorrocks.
Bourouh, who put pressure on the kicker, was penalised at the time for the contact and soon went off for a HIA – as did Shorrocks. Both players passed their assessment. However, Shorrocks went off for another HIA late in the game after a separate incident – with Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles confirming the results weren’t clear at the time of his post-match press conference.
Hull Live has been told that Hull won’t be appealing the ban given the contact was head on head. Bourouh will also be able to serve the ban for the club’s reserve game against Wigan Warriors on Sunday afternoon. The Black and Whites take on Wigan at Robin Park in a rearranged game, with Bourouh able to serve his ban due to no first-team game taking place that weekend. It has been a loophole used by Super League teams before and one Hull can utilise this week. That will free Bourouh up to face Bradford Bulls next Sunday, with Hull looking to right the wrongs of their disappointing defeat to the French side.
Connor Bailey break confirmed
Hull FC have received confirmation that back row forward Connor Bailey has broken his collar bone. Naturally, it’s too early to give a full prognosis with his recovery time dependent on how the bone heals, but he is expected to be out for a couple of months at least in what is another big injury blow for the Black and Whites.
Bailey had played all but one of Hull’s opening dozen games in all competitions this season and was finding his feet in the side. He now joins the likes of Will Pryce (ACL), Herman Ese’ese (Achilles), Jed Cartwright (hamstring), John Asiata (hamstring), Sam Lisone (pec), Arthur Romano (ankle), and Joe Ward (ACL) on the sidelines.
On a lighter note, Ligi Sao (HIA) is expected to return for the Bradford game, while Harvey Barron is in contention again after recovering from an ankle injury.
Loan moves
Hull FC trio Callum Kemp, Lloyd Kemp, and Joe Phillips all played for Goole Vikings against London Broncos on Saturday afternoon. The Championship side (acquiring the trio for one week) were defeated 70-10 by the league leaders. Hugo Salabio also played for Halifax Panthers in their 29-20 defeat to Keighley Cougars. The prop is on loan with the Panthers for one month.
Speaking of loan moves, Hull will look to sort out a longer term solution for their own first team. They have acquired Harry Newman for the last three games, and Jeremiah Mata’utia for the last two, with the Leeds Rhinos pair assessed to week. However, conversations surrounding a more long term fix will be had this week, with an update on the Rhinos duo likely to come after the Challenge Cup semi-finals next week.
Academy edged out
Hull FC’s academy sided were edged out by Leeds Rhinos on Friday night. The Black and Whites trailed 18-0 at half time but rallied in the second half. Unfortunately, they fell just short, with the Rhinos holding out for 22-16 victory.
Scholarship go five from five
Hull FC’s scholarship side are now five from five in 2026 after mauling Castleford Tigers 66-6 last Wednesday night. The Black and Whites’ under-16s side have been impressive all year, also beating Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Huddersfield Giants, and Hull KR, with Seb McKenzie – son of former Hull player Leroy McKenzie – scoring a hat-trick of tries and Freddie Fletcher a brace. The scholars are next in action at Leigh next month. You can read a full feature on them here.