Story Group Sponsor Whitehaven Rugby League Trail Blazers

The Story Group are well known for their ongoing active role in the communities in which they operate  live and have recently announced sponsorship of yet another local sports team; Whitehaven Rugby League.

Whitehaven's top youngsters will be blazing a trail against Super League opposition next season thanks to a major sponsorship deal with Story Group.

The club's Under-15 and 16s will compete in a new national RFL competition called Trail Blazers, against the cream of top-flight talent, in a move expected to raise standards at the Recre.

The new scholarship scheme launches this month, with Haven recruiting an extra dozen players at both Under-15 and 16 level, taking them to 24 in each.

Matches will start in the new year, with the competition split in to East and West groups, which should see Haven face the likes of St Helens and Wigan.

Gary Hewer, Haven's head of performance and development, said, "We have steadily developed our scholarship programme over the past eight years with many player-development and player-identification successes.

The new Trail Blazer scholarship programme gives us the opportunity to take the programme to the next level with increased numbers and a playing opportunity at under-15 and 16 ages groups.

The increased numbers and game opportunities that the programme presents also brings increased expenditure. The Story sponsorship has given us the opportunity to take part which will see the local players, clubs, schools and ultimately Whitehaven RLFC benefit."

The scholarship is open to players from Copeland, Eden, Allerdale and Barrow. Haven have said a big thank you to the Story Group for making Trail Blazer possible.

Chairman Dick Raaz said, "Cumbria has long been known as the heart of rugby league talent, and the player development programme is an integral part of the club and its role in the community.

We are thrilled that Story Group has come forward to assist in the sustainability of the programme. The Rugby Football League have offered clubs the chance to upgrade the present scholarship to Trail Blazers. Without Fred Story's assistance we would not have been able to support the programme.

I know that the young players involved and the club will all benefit enormously from this opportunity."

Story added, "We are very happy to support the Whitehaven RLFC scholarship and give young players in Copeland and Allerdale the opportunity to develop as both rugby players and as individuals. The programme hits our criteria of supporting the community wherever we are building."