Castleford Tigers have added 17 graduates of the RFL's Embed the Pathway initiative to their scholarship ranks.
The Tigers have been able to recruit the majority of targets who have been identified through both the Embed the Pathway Player Development Centre and the club's talent identification systems.
Their recruits will now start a five-week preparation phase ahead of the official start of the scholarship 2016/2017 programme on September 12.
The preparation phase will include physical screening, testing and an introduction to the gym environment.
RFL National Talent Development Officer Anthony Atherton said: "Castleford Tigers run a holistic player development through their Embed The Pathway programme.
"They have engaged with their strength and conditioning staff to provide athletic development support, given the players the opportunity to start profiling and self-reflecting which, coupled to a strong voluntary delivery team, has given them a fine start to a scholarship programme.
"Also pleasing is that the Tigers continue their delivery to incorporate under 15 and under 16 open access opportunities that have seen them recruit late developers and forge strong relationships with their local community clubs."
Two outstanding @EmbedThePathway days this week with over 130 players attending. 2 under 15’s offered scholarship trials #Iwanttolearn
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) February 11, 2016
Tigers Talent Development Manager Darren Higgins added: "We are over the moon with the players we have been able to recruit onto this year’s scholarship programme.
"What is extremely pleasing is all of our recruits have come through our Embed the Pathway Player Development Centre.
"The lads will now transition into the actual club environment with a focus on athletic development ahead of the scholarship programme starting in September.
Talent ID focus will start to switch to next year’s recruitment but we will continue to keep an eye out for potential late recruitment onto this year's programme."
Tigers Head of Youth Pete Riding said: "The quality of players we now have in our system are excellent and it is a very exciting time for everyone involved here at the Tigers. Recruitment and retention of players is a huge cog in the engine of any club's Academy system and I am delighted that our Talent ID process and player development programmes are finding the right quality of players with the required characteristics that we look for in young players."
Great turn out once again at our @embedthepathway under 14s and 15s development day today at @CastlefordAcad pic.twitter.com/Cv9A54i3FU
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) April 23, 2016
Castlford Tigers' under 15's Scholarship Recruits
Archie Craggs - Oulton Raiders
Bailey O’Connor - Castleford Lock Lane
Bradley Graham - Stanley Rangers
Dom Dyson - Normanton Knights
Harrison Spencer–Horton - Kippax Welfare
Iwan Orr - Kippax Welfare
Jack Johnson - Castleford Lock Lane
Joe Burton - Kippax Welfare
Keanu Bean - Sherburn Bears
Leo Marchant - Castleford Panthers
Myles Tate - Oulton Raiders
Nathan Carter - Kippax Welfare
Sam Hall - Oulton Raiders
Taylor Cartwright – Castleford Lock Lane
Theo Holmes - Stanley Rangers
Tyler Tennant - Kippax Welfare
Jack Rowbotham - Doncaster Toll Bar
The award-winning Embed the Pathway programme aims to increase the number of quality 12-14 year old Rugby League players through the education and training of children's coaches.
For more information, click HERE.
