Northern has given new kit and equipment to grassroots rugby teams in Cheshire, East Yorkshire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire to help improve training provision for young players.

The train operator ran a competition earlier this year, in which over four thousand people applied for support for their local club.

The new equipment includes steeden balls and bags, bibs, tackle shields, water bottles and cones.

Among the clubs receiving the equipment are:

• Capenhurst Junior Rugby (Chester, Cheshire)
• Halton Farnworth Hornets (Widnes, Cheshire)
• Beverley Braves (Beverley, East Yorkshire)
• West Hull (Hull, East Yorkshire)
• Clock Face Miners (St Helens, Merseyside)
• Brighouse Rangers (Brighouse, West Yorkshire)
• Fryston Warriors (Fryston, West Yorkshire)
• King Cross Park RLFC (Halifax, West Yorkshire)
• Stanningley SARLC (Leeds, West Yorkshire)

Members of Stanningley SARLC (Sports and Amateur Rugby League Club) recently met two popular players – Ash Golding from Huddersfield Giants and Sophie Robinson from Leeds Rhinos – and showed off their new kit. The Stanningley Club runs more than twenty teams, including men’s, women’s, and children’s teams for different age groups.

Northern is now running a follow-up competition, inviting young people to create a piece of artwork that celebrates their favourite Super League moment. The winning design will be displayed at the 2023 Super League Grand Final in October at Old Trafford.

For more information and details of how to get involved can be found here.

Rugby League is strongly associated with the North of England, having been founded in the late nineteenth century in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. So Northern gives ongoing support to the sports, working alongside clubs across its network, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that the sport is accessible to all.

Stuart Taylor, head of commercial development at Northern, said: “We’re always looking for ways to support the communities we serve.

“Rugby has a strong following among our customer base and the aim of this competition was to encourage more young people to take up the sport in their local area.

“Financial support for local sports groups can be tough – so for us to be able to provide them with new kit and equipment is something practical that will ensure more people have access to this great game.”