Widnes Vikings and the Vikings Foundation are delighted to announce the launch of our new Enhanced Rugby League Development Programme.
Launching Monday 8th July, the 10-week Summer Programme will be open to every player from community clubs with age groups from U11’s to U16’s.
Children and young people across Halton and surrounding areas will have the opportunity to benefit from high-quality coaching, skill sessions, be part of community club collaboration and take part in competitive games to improve their individual abilities.
The EDP will also be supported by Widnes Vikings professional coaching team with Ste Tyrer, Eddie Kilgannon and Head Coach Allan Coleman supporting sessions and providing additional expertise.
Sessions will be held from 6-7pm on Mondays at the Frank Myler Pavillion or the DCBL Stadium and will operate through July, August & September. Exact dates and venue will be confirmed in due course.
Head Coach Allan Coleman said: “It’s something we have been pushing for a while now and it excites me more than anything else.
“It’s about getting the local kids of Widnes back in our jerseys and making the club feel like a giant family.
“There has been a lot of hard work going on in the background and I can’t thank those people enough.
“This sleeping giant is starting to be woken up.”
Simon Fox, Director of the Vikings Sports Foundation said: “We want to get back to the very basics of producing our own high-class talent and crucially, giving young people the chance to do that with us.
“This is a very proud rugby town, a World Club Champion town with a globally renowned Club. The likes of Harry Smith, Mark Percival Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Walters and Lewis Dodd are all Super League players and proudly learnt their craft at our outstanding community clubs.
“It’s that calibre of player and characters that we want to be part of an ambitious Widnes family once again and retain them on our own Super League journey.”
We are currently accepting sign-ups for volunteer coaches who wish to be involved in the Enhanced Development Programme HERE.
To reflect the crucial support and importance of the community game, players will be required to wear their Community Club socks and shorts at sessions and represent their origin club.
Players will be able to sign up for a session from next week and eligible for a range of additional benefits.
