We both enjoyed many years at the top of our sport playing Super League rugby, captaining our clubs and being part of the Great Britain squad but as our playing careers were coming to an end we began thinking about our longer term plans.

We both wanted to find a business that combined our love of the sport with our willingness to help the younger generation to become rugby league professionals. We also feel strongly about the rise in childhood obesity and the sedentary indoor lifestyles many children lead.

Elite Rugby Academy was the result and we began coaching children of all ages, both girls and boys in 2012 at two venues in Castleford and Pontefract where we now coach over 250 children each week.