A former Huddersfield Giants boss is hoping to help grow grassroots rugby league in West Yorkshire by opening her own gym that specialises in rugby league development.
Lori Halloran was head coach of the Giants’ Women’s side for three years before a new venture saw her depart the club at the end of last season.
She is now the proud owner of ‘Athlete’s Collective’, which has recently opened in Huddersfield, and among other things, aims to develop the next generation of rugby league talents in the local area.
The gym, located in Huddersfield, aims to help everyone, from “young athletes taking their first steps in sport” to “established elite athletes wanting to gain an edge.”
Halloran hopes that the gym can offer elite-level support to those who wouldn’t usually get access to top-tier facilities. She says: “Whether you’re an academy player, a community rugby league player, a female athlete looking for specialist support, or someone simply wanting to become fitter and healthier, we want Athlete’s Collective to be a place where you feel welcome and supported.”
Athlete’s Collective offers a range of classes for all ages, from strength and conditioning to sport-specific coaching in rugby league and football. One-to-ones are available, and with current and former players of women’s sport in Huddersfield working as coaches, clients can be assured they are in good hands.
“Our coaches don’t just understand the theory behind performance; many have lived it,” Halloran added. “They’ve played, coached and worked within high-performance environments, including rugby league. That means athletes aren’t just learning drills or exercises—they’re learning from people who understand the demands of the sport and what it takes to progress.”
It’s not just individuals that can use the gym either, with facilities such as a wrestle room, sprint track and a skills zone meaning that local grassroots teams looking for somewhere to train now have access to top-class facilities that they may otherwise not have access to.
She said: “Our philosophy is simple: there should be no need to travel between multiple facilities to meet your performance needs. We’ve created an environment where athletes and individuals can train, develop, recover and perform all in one place.”
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“It is a rugby league issue” – Ex-Huddersfield boss talks hopes to improve community rugby league after opening new gym
As mentioned, Halloran is a former Giants boss, but as a player she played at the pinnacle, representing her country on multiple occasions. Part of the reason that she wanted to create Athlete’s Collective was to provide opportunities to the next generation, opportunities she didn’t have growing up.
“The idea came from recognising the lack of elite-level performance opportunities available to female rugby league players,” she said. “Too often, talented athletes were expected to compete at a high level without having access to the same facilities, coaching, and development opportunities that athletes in other sports often take for granted.
“The more I looked at the wider landscape of rugby league, however, the more I realised this isn’t just a female game issue – it is a rugby league issue.
“Despite the incredible talent, commitment and passion that exists within rugby league, there has often been a gap between what athletes need to maximise their potential and what is readily available to them.
“Many players, from grassroots through to elite level, don’t have easy access to integrated performance environments where they can develop physically, technically and mentally in one place. I felt the sport deserved better, and more importantly, the people within the sport deserved better.”
With more and more grassroots clubs not having the required facilities to fully maximise youth development, Halloran is actively trying to fill that void by allowing teams to use Athlete’s Collective as a training base.
Whilst we have so much to thank the community game for, through no fault of their own don’t have the finances needed to fully help the next generation progress into professional athletes.
“Grassroots clubs are the foundation of our sport,” she said. “Every professional player starts somewhere, and more often than not, that journey begins at a community club.
“If we genuinely want rugby league and other sports to thrive, we have to invest in the environments where athletes develop.
“Community clubs often do an incredible job despite limited resources, so being able to provide access to high-quality facilities and performance support is something we’re really passionate about.
“It’s not just about creating better athletes; it’s about creating better experiences. When players have access to good facilities, quality coaching and professional environments, it raises standards, increases enjoyment and helps people stay involved in sport for longer.
“We’re proud that so many grassroots clubs use Athlete’s Collective because it aligns perfectly with our mission of making elite-level support accessible to everyone.”
