ACHS student Joe M has won a place on the Newcastle Thunder rugby league Scholarship. Joe attended trials during October at Kingston Park training ground after being scouted while playing for Whitley Bay Barbarians. The trials involved around 70 rugby league players from across the North East and Cumbria resulting in 49 being selected for the club’s Scholarship (Under 16 Academy) 2021-22 programme.
Joe trains with Newcastle Thunder every Tuesday and Thursday evening and continues to train with WBB once a week. Joe also plays rugby union for North Shields where he trains three times a week. He will start playing matches for Thunder in May 2022.
Joe loves the excitement and adrenaline he gets from playing rugby and said: “I love both league and union equally, other students should go for it and try rugby at a local club or at school if they are interested in playing.”
Mr Gilhooley said: "Everyone at Astley is immensely proud of Joe's determination and drive with his rugby, especially after returning from injury. This is an excellent opportunity for Joe and one that I am sure he will embrace."
Mr Carbutt said: “I am really pleased to see the progress Joe has made over the last few years, he started his rugby journey in our feeder middle schools and he has a fantastic opportunity now to progress even further. Well done Joe.”