Sheffield Eagles Reserve Team Latest News

Sheffield Eagles Reserves will now face York City Knights on Thursday 8th May at Huntingdon Stadium. The game kicks off at 8pm.

Sheffield Eagles Reserves game against Leigh Centurions was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch in Leigh.

The game will be rearranged and the new date will be advised shortly.

Sheffield Eagles have reversed their fixtures with Batley Bulldogs in the Reserve Team First Division.

The Eagles will now visit Mount Pleasant on Saturday 26th April and will host the Bulldogs at Hillsborough Arena on Saturday 21st June. Both matches kick off at 2.30pm.

The full Reserve Team fixture list is available here

Sheffield Eagles Reserve Team (previously known as the Senior Academy) start their campaign on Saturday against Featherstone Rovers at Hillsborough Arena with a 2:30 pm kick off.

Dean Thomas (Reserve Team Coach) is looking forward to the first match as the past few weeks the team have been getting to know each other and now it is time for the skills and training to be put into practice.

He said that "the idea behind the reserve team is three-fold. To support thefirst team in giving players game time and assist in helping some of the first team to get back in contention after things such as injury; to give opportunities to and to develop the potential of players from amateur teams so that they can play at a higher level and thirdly, now that the Eagles Scholarship Development has been in operation for almost a year, the young players will get the opportunity to progress and allow them to try to achieve their aspirations."

The squad is made up of a mix of new young blood and some favourites from last season, who are still yet to reach the grand old age of 20! Some who have re-signed are, Kyle Kesik who was the Eagles Academy Player of the Year last year, Luke Holt who a made a big impression as a second row/ prop and was "The Rising Star of 2007" who plays for Hillsborough Hawks, Craig Jones has returned after a very successful season last year and he made a big impact on the squad. A new face on the block is Damian Thomas who was on the books at Huddersfield Giants but being at University in Sheffield found travel difficult and he has been released by the Giants to be able to play for the Eagles.

The full list of Reserve Players so far is:

Liam Booth
Damien Thomas
Frank Wragg
Daniel Bedford
Simon Corby
David Reed
Gareth Davies
Ryan James
Craig Jones
Stephen Price
Luke Holt
Kyle Kesik
Aaron Phelps
Ben Vivian
James Paramenter
Richard Humphries
Simon Perry
Neal Ackroyd
Mark Renshaw-Smith

Sheffield Eagles Reserve Team will be coached by former Gateshead Thunder Head Coach and Salford City Reds Conditioner Dean Thomas, but he is on the look out for someone he can mentor into the head coach's role.

"In my time away from the club I've been head coach at Gateshead Thunder and Head of Conditioning at Salford City Reds. Both roles have widened my all round perspective of Rugby League. I've improved my coaching ability, organisational and man management skills and I'm looking forward to putting them all into practice with the 2008 reserve side" he explained.

"Sheffield Eagles is all about development though and we're certainly looking out for someone who can move into the role I am undertaking to create not only the players, but the coaches of the future."

Dean is also convinced by the success of Reserve Grade Rugby.

"On the back of last year's Senior Academy the club were able to promote James Morrow to the first team and this year have signed Mike Roby up on a first team contract. The talent is out there in the area and the Reserve Grade helps us to fine tune it. There will be some excellent games this year and the standard is very high - we hope Eagles fans will continue to support this venture" he continued.

Sheffield Eagles Reserve Team 2008 Fixtures have been released, with the side playing 16 games this season. The old "Senior Academy First Division" name has been dropped from the competition, and takes on the name of "Rugby League Reserve First Division" as from the 2008 season. The former "Junior Academy" will now be called "Academy".

More details will be released about The Eagles Reserve Side early in 2008. For the full fixture list click here.

The Eagles Senior Academy Game against Castleford Tigers will now take place on Wednesday 15th August, 7.00pm kick off at Hillsborough Arena. The game was originally postponed from June due to flooding in Sheffield.

The Eagles apologise to fans for the length of time it has taken to re-arrange the fixture. This has been due to protracted negotiations with the Castleford club.

The Eagles Senior Academy Game against Leigh Centurions has been moved forward two days to Thursday 19th July at Hillsborough Arena. The game will kick off at 7.30pm. The following day The Eagles will play Leigh's first team at Don Valley Stadium.

The Eagles Senior Academy Game against Doncaster Lakers has been cancelled as The Lakers have withdrawn from their Senior Academy fixtures following the takeover of the club after financial difficulties.

The Eagles Senior Academy's next game is on Wednesday 27th June vs Hunslet Hawks, 7.30pm Kick Off at South Leeds Stadium.

The Eagles Senior Academy Game against Castleford Tigers on Saturday 16th June has been cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.

The game will be rearranged and a date advised shortly.

Mark Aston is giving some of his young squad players a chance to grab a first team shirt tomorrow (Saturday 21 April). The Eagles don’t have a league game this weekend but Aston will make six potential first 17 players available to Chris Robinson for the Senior Academy side to face Workington.

Grant Farrow, Grant Edwards and Caldon Bravo will join John Crawford, Zac Hill, James Morrow and Ryan Hepworth who played last weekend.

“There a few people who need game time,” he said. “The lads who played last Saturday did well and I’m bringing in a few more. It’ll help the younger Academy squad players and it’s a chance for a few people to claim a seat on the bus to Leigh.”

The Academy lost 42-22 to Widnes in their opening game in the league but turned in a strong performance.

Aston added: “The lads did great on their first game together. Ryan Hepworth put in a big set and John Crawford showed what he can do. People like Grant Edwards and Caldon Bravo played in the last first team game but the need more game time.”

The game against Workington is at Hillsborough Arena, Middlewood Road tomorrow, kick-off 2.30pm. Entry is £2 for Adults and £1 for Juniors.

FORMER captain Chris Robinson is returning to Sheffield Eagles as coach of the new Senior Academy side. Robinson played a big part in establishing the reborn Eagles during their first two seasons in the then Northern Ford Premiership. As Academy coach he will be responsible for developing young players and providing a back-up squad to the first team.

“We are delighted that Chris is back,” said head coach Mark Aston. “He was an inspiration in the first few years of the new Eagles. I have kept in touch with him ever since and having him back as part of the coaching team is great. He has a lot of respect from me and I’m sure he will do a fantastic job. Chris is excited about it, he been coaching in the amateur game for a few years but he is now coming back to the pro game.”

A scrum-half or hooker Robinson joined the Eagles from Keighley Cougars and played 30 games between 1999 and 2001 scoring 37 points. After he retired he coached at amateurs Bradford Dudley Hill and took them on a giant-killing run that included a win at his old club Keighley. The links with the Eagles remained strong and three brothers – Sean, Alex, and Ryan Dickinson – joined Sheffield from Dudley Hill.

The Eagles have been holding trials for young players and are in the process of choosing a squad.

SHEFFIELD Eagles will hold a trial for players hoping to join their newly-formed Senior Academy squad. The Academy offers a chance for young players to break into the professional rugby league. It will also give players in the Eagles’ 29-man senior squad an opportunity to stay match fit if they are out of the first team. Academy sides must include at least nine players under 21.

“It’s a great chance players to prove they can make it in the professional game,” said Eagles head coach Mark Aston. “There are the players out there. We have a record of developing players at Sheffield Eagles and it would be great if we can tap into talent that I am sure is there.”

The trial will be at Don Valley Stadium on Thursday 8 March. Potential players should contact Ray Green on 0114 261 0326 to confirm their attendance. The trial will be led by Eagles’ development coaches Jack Howieson and Mitch Stringer, who will run through approximately 20 minutes of warm ups and skills drills followed by a game.

The Eagles’ Senior Academy will play their first game at Hunslet Hawks on Saturday 31 March, kick-off 2.30pm. The Eagles will play their home games at Hillsborough Arena – home of Hillsborough Hawks ARLFC. The first game will be against Widnes Viking, on Saturday 14 April, kick-off 2.30pm.

SHEFFIELD Eagles have opened the door for a coach and young players to step into professional rugby league. The National League One club is looking for a coach to take charge of their newly formed Senior Academy side. And they are to hold trials for players who could be part of the squad – which is effectively the Eagles’ second team.

“It’s great news that the club is running a Senior Academy and now we are out there looking for the right person to coach the squad,” said Eagles boos Mark Aston. “They will also play a massive part in the coaching department. If there is anyone who thinks they have the right credentials get in touch with me and let’s have a chat and have a look at you.”

It’s four years since the Eagles last ran an Academy side and it offers a route into coaching to a former professional player or someone with a track record in the amateur league. Academy teams have to include at least nine players under age 21 – opening the way for players trying to break into the pro game.

The Eagles have a squad of 29 players but only a few are inside the Academy age limit.

Aston added: “We are also looking for Senior Academy players. We will be running a trial to have a look at lads who feel they have the potential to play for the Eagles. They will have to be between the ages of 18 and 21 but Academy sides can include eight over 21, so it doesn’t rule anybody out. We are looking for people who are playing the game with amateur clubs or students. If they feel they have something to offer let’s have a look. Jack Howieson came to us from Sheffield Hallam University students five years ago and now he’s club captain. And there’s players in rugby union who are of the standard we are looking for – it’s an opportunity for them to have a go at league. It’s all about giving people opportunities – as a coach or a player. We just want to right people.”

Anyone interested in the Senior Academy coaching job or coming for a trial as a player can contact Aston at the club office on 0114 2610326 or email him on mark.aston@sheffieldeagles.com

SHEFFIELD Eagles will bring back a second team to back-up their bid from success after promotion to National League One. It will give players in the 29-man squad who are not getting the first team action the chance to stay match fit. The side operating in the Senior Academy league will provide an opportunity to bring on new young players.

"It's fantastic news for the club because everybody can't play every week and you can't expect them to compete in Division One if they are not playing," said Eagles coach Mark Aston. "Every player that trains wants to play - that's why you put in the hard work at training. It means that everybody will be playing and competing for places. If they are not in first team it means they can put their best foot forward in the Academy."

It is nearly four years since the Eagles last ran an Academy side. Assistant coach Andy Tyers will be involved and an extra coach is set to join. The Senior Academy will play against teams from most of the First Division clubs. Academy sides are only allowed to include eight players over 21. Aston believes this will open the door for young players to make a mark at Don Valley. Last season winger or centre Alex Clemie was allowed to join the Batley Academy because his chances were restricted at Don Valley. The winger or centre progressed well and is staying at Batley and could face the Eagles after being promoted to their first team squad.

Aston said: "We did ask the Rugby League for a dispensation on the number of over-21 players in teams but that was rejected and decided to go ahead. You can only play eight over 21. That puts a bit of pressure on because we only have two or three under 21 in the squad. But we want to have a look at some of the young kids who are out there. That's what we have always done and its produced players like Mitchell Stringer and Greg Hurst. It means we can give those players an opportunity."