College and Wolves team up

WARRINGTON Wolves and Warrington Collegiate have teamed up in a unique partnership which will see both the club and college benefit from working together.
Although initially for a year, both parties see the partnership developing long term uniting the rugby club with the largest learning provider in Warrington. The partnership will see the college link in with the club’s scholarship providing educational information, advice and guidance sessions. The Warrington Collegiate logo will be used together with the Scholarship’s logo on the scholarship team kit and equipment, as well as on all correspondence.
The partnership will see the Collegiate team become a feeder to the Wolves’ Junior Academy. This will provide an opportunity for Collegiate players to develop at the Wolves; a pathway into the professional game for any individual who possesses the right personal skills and ability.
It will also provide a pathway for any talented coaches at the college to get involved with the Wolves.
Player Performance Manager, Ben Lazenby said: “Individuals who work hard to improve their Rugby League knowledge and ability through a different route should also be rewarded with a pathway.”
“The game of rugby league in this area is heavily reliant on volunteer coaches and we will work to increase the number and quality of these coaches in partnership with the college”.
The support for the players and coaches at the college will come from the Warrington Wolves Director of Youth Development, John Bastian, who will watch a number of the Collegiate games, deliver sessions to the team, as well as develop the coaches involved in the college along the coaching pathway.
John was keen to explain one of the reasons for the partnerships: “Creating opportunities through education will provide 16 to 19 year olds an incentive to challenge themselves at a professional level.”
Mike Stoddart, Director of Sport at Warrington Collegiate said, “We are delighted to formalise the excellent links we already have with the Wolves. We believe that this will add value to both the club and the college enabling young people in Warrington to develop both in their sporting prowess and educational achievements.”
Warrington Collegiate have a huge range of courses from Accountancy to Airline Operations, Carpentry to Childcare and is the recommended place of further education study for Warrington Wolves’ players.
Picture: Ben Lazenby (Warrington Wolves Player Performance Manager) and Mike Stoddart (Warrington Collegiate Director of Faculty of Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Catering)