Hull FC's academy are undergoing a strenuous military camp on the south coast this weekend. The squad left East Yorkshire on Friday morning, with the club keeping the players in the dark on their destination.

The team knew they were heading for some team-building exercises, but just how intense was kept a secret. They arrived at 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC in Marchwood, near Southampton, on Friday evening, where it was revealed to them that they would undergo a series of exercises to 'strengthen team cohesion and communication skills' ahead of the start of the season.

The full academy squad are in camp at McMullen Barracks, with over 25 players involved. After arrival, they underwent some team-building games, constructed their own cot beds, and had their mobile phones taken away for the weekend. They had three unexpected wake-up calls throughout their first night, with the squad put through their paces.

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The camp will undergo several activities across the weekend, designed to make players 'think carefully about their decisions, as well as looking after their teammates.' The weekend was organised by club Armed Forces and Community Pathways Officer Steve Sampher, along with Head of Youth Richard Tate, explaining the benefits of the trip, which will get players out of their comfort zone and into some challenging drills—both mentally and physically—ahead of the new season.

"We are really grateful to the team at 17 Port and Maritime Regiment for allowing us to visit their barracks this weekend for what we know will be a hugely beneficial exercise for all of the players," he said. "We picked Southampton because we wanted somewhere that wasn’t close to home. It’s about as far away as we can get, so that will add an element of discomfort, especially as some players rarely venture outside of East Yorkshire.

"It’s specifically designed to mentally challenge each individual with plenty of different activities scheduled across the weekend, including a few surprises in there. Having a tight-knit environment within a squad is essential because it can help to overcome challenging situations together when backs are against the wall. When you come through the other side of adversity, it’s important to be able to celebrate that together, and that’s ultimately what this exercise is designed for."

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