Widnes Vikings are proud to announce the official launch event for the Future Vikings 2025 programme, taking place on Friday, 4th July at 7pm at the DCBL Stadium.
The evening will bring together players and parents across the programme as the Club marks the next exciting chapter in its player development pathway. The event will feature guest appearances from Vikings Head Coach Allan Coleman, Future Vikings coaching team members, and Vikings Development Board representatives.
Having initially launched as a development programme for 12 to 16-year-olds, Future Vikings has now expanded to include players aged 11 to 18, offering even more young athletes the opportunity to develop their skills within a high-performance environment.
To date, over 320 players from across the North West have signed up to be part of the programme, supported by more than 28 coaches drawn from the local community club network.
In 2024, the Vikings development teams played fixtures against Leigh Leopards, Salford Red Devils, Oldham and Bradford Bulls, showcasing outstanding levels of talent, commitment and desire throughout.
The programme has already begun to bear fruit, with a number of players going on to sign Scholarship and Academy contracts with Super League clubs.
Its ongoing mission is to identify, retain and sustain the most talented young players from across the District, and its success has seen it recognised by the RFL as a best-in-class model for community cohesion.
The impact of Future Vikings has also laid the foundations for an exciting future development, with the Club now actively working toward re-establishing a Widnes Vikings Academy in the near future.
Chief Revenue Officer and Development Board Member, Simon Fox, said: “Karalius, Bowden, Laughton, O’Neill, Hulme, Wright, Currier, Eyres and Myler are names that long live in the memory of Widnes fans, rightly so.
“As one of rugby league’s greatest clubs, we must get back to doing what we’re good at, producing and retaining home-grown talent that stay and play for their town team.
“Not St Helens, Wigan, Leeds or others; we need to make ourselves the team of choice. Future Vikings is getting us back on that track, and with the pending launch of an Academy, we’re confident we have a path to success.”
Tickets for the launch event will be made available initially to parents and players involved in the programme.
Head Coach Allan Coleman will be at the Frank Myler Pavilion this coming Monday at 6:30pm, speaking directly to players and parents about the pathway and the ambitions for the Future Vikings in 2025.
Stay tuned to our channels for more updates — we look forward to welcoming you to the DCBL Stadium on July 4th as we take the next step together in developing the next generation of Vikings.
