More success for our Academy of Sport players!

Fantastic news for two of our Academy of sport players, Will Holling and Sam Pocklington who have both just secured contracts to be professional players for Doncaster Knights.

Will Holling is currently studying at University Centre Doncaster in his final year studying Business, Will is now the 3^rd youngster to put pen to paper on a new one-year-deal to sign for the Knights as he progresses up the pathway of the club.

Last summer Will spent four months in Australia with Griffith University after Director of Rugby Clive Griffiths formed the link with the university.

The academy has continued his development since his return to England, helping them to a BUCS cup and league double for the second consecutive season.

Doncaster born Will was delighted to sign his first full-time professional contract with the club.

“Yes I am really excited to get going in the first team, I have worked hard over the last three years in the academy and it is great to see it has paid off.

It has been a great season with coming back from Australia with a trophy and then winning the league and cup in the BUCS, so the contract really tops it all off as a superb campaign.

I have trained before with the first team, but as a professional player I am looking forward to getting into that environment and learning off the players, some are already my coaches in academy so it’s good to have some similar faces around.”

Will’s signing comes shortly after Sam Pocklington who has also signed a full-time professional contract with the Knights, Sam is currently studying Sports Science and is in his second year at University Centre Doncaster. Sam has had an impressive season in the academy and describes the deal as a ‘boyhood dream.’

The Academy player made his debut in Doncaster colours in a friendly against Sale Sharks at the end of August, as well as coming on for the closing stages in the Championship cup clash with Yorkshire Carnegie. Sam was over the moon to have put pen to paper on a one-year-deal.

“It is a boyhood dream as I have been working with the academy now for two years and after going through the great pathway here, playing with Doncaster Phoenix and the Academy, it shows that it works. This possibly could be my best season yet with winning the BUCS cup and league, not only that I am winning games with Phoenix who are going well at the moment and the contract is the icing on the cake really.”

Sam is aware of the challenge ahead though to make sure he gets game time for the Knights.

“I know it’ll be tough both physically and mentally as it will be my first season as a professional rugby player, but I am really looking forward to it.