Hull FC boost IMG grade with new initiative unveiled

Hull FC have announced a brand-new partnership with North Lincolnshire Council that will see them form a new pathways program that will help young people get into the sport of rugby league.

Working with, and supported by the local authority, the hope is said to inspire school-age children to get involved in the sport, as well as help develop future coaches and get more people into grassroots clubs across the area.

The program, which includes activities such as taster sessions, training camps and festivals, was launched earlier this year, and has already seen over 300 young people benefit and begin their rugby league journey.

Hull FC are going down a similar path to Leeds Rhinos, who this week announced that Danny McGuire had returned to his boyhood club to take up a new role as rugby league impact and growth manager.

Not only will this new partnership benefit the club in the long-term, as they look to enter more talents into their Centre of Excellence, but it will also increase their IMG score, with the ‘community’ pillar set for an increase due to the program.

Hull FC chief reveals “important step forward” as club unveil new pathways system

Speaking on the announcement of the partnership, chief executive Richie Myler, said: “This is a significant announcement for the club, and another important step forward as we look to grow our own club footprint, and more importantly, participation in the sport across our own region and surrounding areas.

“While it lies just a couple of miles away from us geographically on the other side of the River Humber, North Lincolnshire has been a largely untapped area when it comes to Rugby League development. With the likes of Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron rising through our ranks after initially coming from footballing backgrounds, we’ve proven that there is a vast pool of young talent out there to be tapped into. And this agreement will not only help us build some new pathways into the sport, but hopefully unearth some new talent in the longer-term.

“We are already seeing hundreds of young people beginning to engage with the sport for the first time, and these numbers will only grow as the partnership develops over the coming months and years.

“2025 has been a significant year of development across the club as we lay the foundations for an exciting few years ahead, and this is just another piece of that jigsaw for us; I’d like to thank the team at North Lincolnshire Council and the Get Ahead Partnership for their vision in linking up with us, as well as our teams behind the scenes within the Hull FC Community Foundation and Centre of Excellence for putting in the legwork to get this off the ground.”