FC's ownership gesture provides more motivation to already big carrot

HULL FC's emerging talent will enter the 2026 season with a big carrot dangled in front of them: the chance to head on the club's 2027 Academy tour to Australia.

- By DAN TOMLINSON

Hull FC's new Head of Youth Richard Tate

(DLPHOTOS)

For the group of second-year scholars, which contains first-team coach Andy Last’s twin sons, Jacob and Isaac, it's a big motivation, the same of which goes for the first-year academy players - a crop containing the likes of Caleb Paleaaesina, Kingsley Sharpe, and the like.

That motivation is in play now, and while the club have covered half of the costs of their Australia tour through owners Andrew Thirkill and David Hood, the other half will be paid for by fundraising.

Those efforts have already started, with the scholars completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge back in August.

Their next event is a Christmas Bake Off - a chance to have some festive fun and continue raising funds for a trip Head of Youth Richard Tate believes will have huge benefits for the players.