Five of Cramlington Rockets’ starlets have been selected as part of the Newcastle Thunder U16s Foundation squad following three months of training and trial matches.

With Newcastle Thunder recently having being awarded Category 2 Academy status, it now means the North East’s only professional rugby league club now have U16s and U19s and a clear pathway for the region’s juniors into the professional game.

The twenty player U16s squad will play six fixtures in the coming months while the U19s have a full programme of 20 against both regional and Super League Academy sides.

From the Northumberland-based club, full back Ryan Hull is one of five U15s in the squad playing up a year and was the top try scorer at the Rockets in the 2015 season across all ages with 34 tries.

Joining him is fellow U15 Seth Kippax-Jones who only started playing rugby league last year but made a name for himself by scoring three tries in last season’s Cup Final win.

From the Rockets’ U16s, half back Tom Wilcox has been selected to cap off a good month in which he was also named man-of-the-series in the inaugural Rockets Origin series.

Alongside him is hooker Oliver Gowing who showed his teak-tough nature during last summer’s Grand Final when he manfully played on with a nasty cut to the eye to help the team lift the trophy.

Rhys Edgell makes up the quintet, the hard running centre having regularly shown his try scoring prowess in tough games through the season.

“We are thrilled to see so many Rockets in the squad” said Rockets Coach, Jeff Ball. “There is some serious talent in the region right now and all five lads have worked really hard to get selected.

Newcastle Thunder securing Category 2 status is a big thing for junior rugby league in the region as it provides a pathway into professional rugby league that we have never had before.

There will be some tough games, particularly the match against Super League side Salford Red Devils at Kingston Park on 30th January, but it will really help the development both of the players but also rugby league in the North East.

Newcastle Thunder U16s Foundation squad:

Luke Caithness - Winlaton Warriors
Ryan Hull - Cramlington Rockets
Anthony Dyne - Peterlee Pumas
Aaron Mcbride - Gateshead Storm
Tony Saywell - Wallsend Eagles
Tom Wilcox - Cramlington Rockets
Jared Deacon - Jarrow Vikings
Connor Palmer - Jarrow Vikings
Rory Nettleton - Jarrow Vikings
Nathaniel Kitching - Durham Tigers
Liam Hubbard - Jarrow Vikings
Daniel Froggart - Winlaton Warriors
James Mcgurk - Jarrow Vikings
Oliver Gowing - Cramlington Rockets
Rhys Edgell - Cramlington Rockets
Sam Attewell - Jarrow Vikings
Cai Ellis - Durham Tigers
Joshua Leighton - Wallsend Eagles
Tyler Walton - Wallsend Eagles
Seth Kippax-Jones - Cramlington Rockets

Full list of the Academy U16's fixtures:

Sat 16th Jan - Cumbria Storm - Away 14:00 @ Millom RLFC
Sat 30th Jan - Salford Red Devils - Home 14:00 @ Kingston Park
Sat 6th Feb - Salford Red Devils - Away 14:00 @ AJ Bell Stadium 1 Stadium Way
Sat 13th Feb - Cumbria Storm - Home 14:00 @ Kingston Park
Sat 20th Feb - Midlands Hurricanes - Home 14:00 @ TBC
Sat 27th Feb - London Broncos - Away 14:00 @ Ealing Trailfinders Vallis

Entry into Kingston Park for the 16's academy games will be via the Tap and Tackle and will be £3 with a programme