Hull FC have agreed a dual-registration partnership with Championship outfit Doncaster for the 2025 season. The partnership will see movements of players between both clubs, allowing for extra playing opportunities throughout the season.
The view is to get more games under the belts of both club’s young players with Hull making first-team, reserves, and academy talents available when not selected by head coach John Cartwright or on reserves or academy action. That benefit will be also be used for the Dons’ brightest up-and-coming talents, who will also line up in Hull’s various age groups this year.
The partnership will be first put into practice this weekend, with Black and White quartet Zach Jebson, Matty Laidlaw, Joe Ward and Owen Haldenby all selected by the Dons for their pre-season friendly against Sheffield Eagles.
Elsewhere, it will also build on the junior pathways of both clubs, which was confirmed last year and provides new and unique development opportunities for participants aged between 12 and 18 years old. The clubs will also work together off the field and will have joint training sessions together.
Coached by Hull FC legend Richard Horne, Doncaster are aiming for another strong season in the Championship, with former Airlie Birds such as Josh Bowden, Bureta Faraimo, Craig Hall, Reece Lyne, and Andre Savelio in their squad.
Commenting on the partnership, Hull FC Chief Executive Richie Myler is excited for the playing opportunities ahead. He said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Dons and to be able to offer additional playing opportunities for members of our squad throughout 2025.
“We already have a great connection with the club, and we’re excited to develop that further throughout the year. Doncaster have pulled together a really competitive squad for this season, and allowing some of our players to be a part of that squad at times throughout the year will only be beneficial to both clubs. This partnership will be an important piece of the puzzle in our long-term strategy for our player development.”
Meanwhile, Richard Horne, who has worked with Hull before since becoming Dons head coach is predicting a strong and healthy partnership between the two clubs, having opted for dual ref over using the loan market. He added: “We’re really pleased to restart this agreement with Hull FC which will provide us with valuable cover this season.
“With our signings, we prioritised quality over quantity as we look to kick on which means we don’t have the biggest squad. It’s inevitable there’ll be times when we’re short, especially with 30-plus games.
“We found the loan market difficult last year and there’s not always a lot out there when you really need it and there were definitely times when we were short. This dual-registration agreement gives us access to full-time players who will be ready athletically and bring a good deal of quality. Working closely with Hull has been really valuable for us in the past and I’m sure we’ll enjoy the benefits again this season.”
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