Touching over 20,000 people per year, the Hull FC Foundation is right at the heart of its community, with two further variants of rugby league, learning and physical, part of their fabric.

As well as its various community projects, many of the club's various teams are under the branch, including Hull's women's outfit, girls programme, and wheelchair side, but it's the two disability elements that continue to rise.

With 45 players, Hull's LDRL side, who took part in a session with the Princess of Wales last year, is thriving. Managed by Mike Swainger, the club is always on the lookout for new starters, no matter their age or background. That has created an inclusive environment, with the experience very much about the friendships made as well as the rugby league played.

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"As a club and as a foundation, we have been doing some good stuff, and we have to celebrate that," Swainger, speaking to Hull Live, said. "Hopefully, that will continue into the new year.

"We've got around 45 players on the LDRL programme at the moment. We go into schools and teach wheelchair rugby league, LDRL, and PDRL. We then invite them to training sessions at the club, and that has helped grow the numbers.

"We have them throughout the year, and that helps with the consistency, so when we go to our LDRL festivals, we have around four or five teams that go to each festival. We take anywhere from 30 to 40 players. We started it a few years ago now, and we've always had big numbers around it. It's all heading in the right direction."

Featuring ardent Hull FC supporters, the makeup of the sides is very diverse, but through the Airlie Birds, there is a connection. Swainger continued: "For some of the players, it's not even playing the rugby; it's about the friendships that are made and the opportunities to pull on the Black and White shirt.

"Their ideals are Hull FC players, so opportunities to meet them or play at Newcastle's St James' Park or Elland Road for the Magic Weekend is a big pull. It's one the players absolutely love; they take those memories and they keep them forever.

"That's the beauty of it; it's very much back to basics. It doesn't matter if you drop the ball; it's just classed as a tackle, and it's an opportunity. We've had quite a lot of players that have jumped on our volunteering or educational programmes, giving them employability skills and giving them that opportunity. It's not just about the rugby; it's about the life skills that go along with that and the friendships that are made as well.

"That's what it's all about—having that camaraderie, and rugby league is the common denominator. They come together, and they enjoy the experience."

The same applies to the club's PRDL side, which was launched a couple of years ago. They now compete in festivals throughout the year and have recorded great progress, both in terms of participation numbers and results, with two players, Corey Davies and Eric Horridge, now England PDRL Youth Ambassadors.

"We've completed our second season of PDRL now, and it's the same again," Swainger explained. "We go to festivals; we have about six or seven a year, and we play other clubs' foundations. We are relatively new, but we pulled off some big wins last season, so that shows the progression that has been made from the players and the team.

"Again, it's just another variant of rugby league that has been made available for people with physical disabilities. For example, if you can't be tackled, then you wear red shorts, and it goes to touch rugby rules, and if you want to tackle, you can play full contact. It's another great format and another great thing about rugby league in general. Really, anyone can play now, and that's what it's all about."

He added: "When we first started the wheelchair team, we were lucky to get four or five players down to training. It's just that consistency and being patient—you know how good it is when you play it, so it's getting everyone else to realise how good it is. Once you do that, you become hooked."

Physical Disability Rugby League Awards

• Player of the Year – Eric Horridge

• Coaches Player of the Year – Dylan Mell

• Players Player of the Year – Fred Dearlove

• Young Player of the Year – Bailey Medlam

• Most Improved Player – John Ward

Learning Disability Rugby League Awards

• All 45 players received medals.

Wheelchair Rugby League Awards

• Player of the Year – Nathan Sherwood

• Young Player of the Year – Olly Horridge

• Coaches Player of Year – Josh Edwards

• Players Player of the Year – Tristan Norfolk

• Most Improved Player – Justin Wells

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