Hull FC have confirmed a new structure for the club's women's and girls' rugby league pathways for 2025 and beyond. The Black and Whites saw Grand Final success for their women's team in 2024, earning promotion back to the Championship ahead of the new season, while the girls outlets continue to grow and provide players for the senior team.

The new restructure, which sees a new head coach come in for the women's side alongside over a dozen staff appointments, will align the women's and girls' pathways with Hull's wider youth development pathway, including the men's academy and scholarship progammes, all overseen by the club's Head of Youth, Richard Tate.

A new women's head coach has been confirmed, with Pete Grayburn, Director of Sports Scholarships and Head of Rugby at Archbishop Sentamu Academy, and Head Coach of England Community Lions Women, taking the role. Further changes have been made to the club's under-16s and under-14s girls' sides, with the 16s competing in the Premier Division and the 14s in the East Division.

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Lorien Pettit will become the club’s New Girl's Rugby League Development Lead. She will also coach the under-16s, with the hope of continuing recent club success in getting more club-produced talents into the women's side, with the pathway, which has over 60 players across three age groups, in it's fifth year.

Speaking on her new role and the pathway, she said: "The recent successes of our girls and women’s teams have sparked a big interest in our Centre of Excellence Sports College Programme and an increase in female students attending the college. We have been instrumental in advancing the sport and creating a platform for these female athletes to succeed off the field as well as on it.

"The growth of the Women's Rugby League at the club over the past few years has been incredible. As a coach, it’s been inspiring to watch the players develop not only as athletes but as role models too. With the backing and support we now have from the clubs’ Youth Development Department this year, I am excited to see what we can achieve moving forward as we continue to plan and advance the women’s and girls pathway further."

Meanwhile, Grayburn is excited about the ambition of Hull's female setup. He said: "Firstly, I would like to thank Richard Tate and the club for welcoming me and giving me the opportunity to lead their women’s team. After discussing in great detail the club’s ambition and vision for the Women’s and Girls programme here at Hull FC, it was an easy decision for me to make and one I am very much looking forward to.

"It’s important we recognise the success of last season and, as a playing group, we now challenge ourselves individually and collectively to achieve our new short, medium, and long-term goals, on and off the field. The transition over into the club’s Youth Department shows real intent and forward-thinking, which will see the Women’s and Girls programmes mirror that of the club’s Men's Academy and Scholarship programmes.

"I believe our future success can be achieved in many different forms and not solely match results. We know the challenges that we will be up against on the field this year after promotion to the Championship from League One, and this is something we are looking forward to meeting head-on."

Richard Tate, added: "This is a really exciting time as we look to evolve our women’s & girl’s pathway. Through the guidance and hard work of Jack Coates (former Women’s Head Coach) and Lorien Pettit, along with the support of the Hull FC Community Foundation and James Price (Head of Hull FC Community Foundation), the programme has grown from strength to strength over the last few seasons.

"To help build on the women’s team momentum and success, we’re really pleased to welcome Pete Grayburn to the club. As we prepare for the Women’s Championship season, not only will his coaching and leadership experience be fantastic for our young group of players, but alongside Lorien and the other brilliant support staff, he will help re-shape how we develop our future women’s players, ensuring we provide one of the best pathways possible for all girls from U14 to open age."

A full breakdown of the new women’s & girl’s coaching structure can be found below:

Women’s Staff
Head Coach: Pete Grayburn
Assistant Coach: Ben Thorpe
Transition Coach: Ryan Hill
Conditioner: Kieron Munro
Sports Rehab: Amy Kitching
Team Manager: Jayne Sexton

Girl’s Staff
U16 Lead Coach: Lorien Pettit
U16 Assistant Coach: Helen Needham
Transition Coach: Ryan Hill
U16 First Aid: Mark Wilsher
U16 Team Manager: Kim Hill
U14 Lead Coach: Lauren Sutton
U14 Assistant Coach: Paul Coates
U14 Development Coach: Jade Key

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