We are excited to announce that Furness Raiders have been accredited as an RFL Development Academy.
Several years ago, Paul Crarey and the late Keith Nutter, in conjunction with Furness College, created Furness Raiders to take part in the regional College rugby league.
Barrow Raiders Director Scott Deakin took up the reigns from Keith Nutter, and along with Matt Jefferson, who was working at Furness College at the time, formulated a plan to becoming an RFL recognised Development Academy, a process that has taken well over 18 months.
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This week Phil Jones, Talent Inclusion Manager for the RFL, presented Furness Raiders with the plaque and official recognition as a Development Academy.
This is a massive feather in the cap for all involved with the progress of Furness Raiders and the town of Barrow in Furness.
Help comes from all corners to keep Furness Raiders operating, from the Barrow rugby shop, managed by Jane Hetherington, to the Scarr family and the legion of volunteers.
The Barrow Raiders Board and chairman Steve Neale are also to be congratulated for providing all the facilities to enable the games to go ahead.
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We are the only club in Cumbria to be recognised as a Development Academy and a talent pathway, and shows the general direction Barrow Raiders is heading.
Special thanks must go to our two head coaches, Paul McMillan and Steve Perry, and their assistants Mark Dixon and Mike Whitehead, who give up their free time to coach and provide advice, including nutrition and strength and conditioning training regimes.
This season, Furness Raiders have reached the College League play-offs, and an announcement regarding their next fixture will be revealed soon.
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