Rockets Community, the community arm of Cramlington Rockets have recently started working with universities to allow current students to shadow the Community Coaches in their work in schools across Northumberland to gain experience in a real world environment.

Connor Lye is the latest student to join the Rockets between studying Sport and Exercise Science at Leeds Beckett University.

The Rockets are well known to Lye who started his rugby league career as an eight-year-old with the club when it used to be based in Killingworth and was keen to get involved.

"When I found out that Cramlington Rockets had a community department that was giving work placement opportunities to students, I jumped at the chance to come back to where it all began for me and my love for rugby league blossomed.”

"Cramlington Rockets community department was the obvious choice for me for a work placement as I wanted to give back to the club that started me on the path of a sporting career and to the game that I love.

To also be able to work once again with Community Manager, Steven Beaty, the man that brought me to the club was a massive factor. To go from once calling him coach to work alongside and learn from him was an opportunity I did not want to miss.”

Lye has been using his experience as a player and from his time at university to help deliver a number of sessions to children across Northumberland, passing on his experience which most recently saw him representing the North East Origin squad last December.

To find out more about getting involved or welcoming Rockets Community to your school, please contact the community department on rocketscommunity@gmail.com or via cramlingtonrockets.co.uk or 07984630083.