Richard Tate and Gareth Ellis fronted Hull FC’s media briefing this week as the club’s 2027 Academy Tour to Australia was revealed, but for the modest duo, there’s a key cog lurking in the backdrop: Francis Cummins.
Joining the club for the 2024 season, Cummins has dived headfirst into all things Black and White. He took on the academy and reserves coaching roles last year, and when Tony Smith departed the club last April, he stepped up alongside Simon Grix to help with first-team matters.
Putting the club first, Cummins shares the long-term vision for youth development, something he is fully passionate about as the club prepares to embark on a three-week tour Down Under.
Explaining that passion, Tate said: “The experience Franny brings as a coach – he’s a youth developer, and he’s passionate about rugby league; that’s the first and foremost, which is great, and his passion oozes into those young boys.
“You can see that in everything he does, from a video referee to a simple drill outside to his pre-match team talk. His enthusiasm is infectious around those young boys.
“I can think of no better person at this moment in time to have that academy team. From a coaching side of things around the youth, he’s been an educator to the rest of us as well. We’re really fortunate, and we enjoy working with him. He’s class.”
For Ellis, working alongside Cummins in a throwback. The duo played against each other and alongside each other in their playing careers, and Ellis has also been coached by him in his Leeds Rhinos days.
“I played alongside him, I’ve been coached by him, and now I’ve a colleague of him,” Ellis added. “I’ve ticked all the boxes. But the enthusiasm and the passion he has for those young lads – you take the rugby element, but as people too – it really comes through, and sometimes that’s been laughy and jokey, and sometimes that’s telling them some hard truths.
“That’s what coaching is, and he does it really well. He’s got a really good balance. He’s travelled the world with rugby as well, and I’m sure that he sees the importance of this trip, how influential it can be, and the impact and legacy that it can have on those young lads.”
For the club, the message now is simple: support. The first-team are looking to kick on now after a more than satisfactory start to the season, with the academy looking to raise funds to supplement the donations made by the club to facilitate the tour – one where the region’s community clubs will have a big role.
“We all need to get behind the black and white banner now,” Tate said. “Get behind these boys, as much as they’ve done already in their short careers, and help us make this the best possible experience.
“There will be some fundraising opportunities throughout the next 18 months, and we know how much the rugby league community will buy into it, but from that side of things, it’s more about being proud of those boys and the opportunity presented to them.”
Tate added: “As an adopted East Yorkshireman – I’ve been here for over ten years now – Hull is proud of its local people and its local juniors, and as much as it wants to see successful rugby league teams, they want as many local heroes as possible in there as well.
“The community game creates and helps nurture the best rugby league players across both clubs in the city, so if we can help support them and pay homage to them with the journey they’ve been on to get to this stage, that’s an added bonus for us as well.
“We know what type of people rugby league supporters are, and they will be behind their players 100% who are fortunate enough to be included in this tour.”