HEWORTH ARLC Under-16s embark on their most testing season soon with coach Kenny Embleton lauding the lads’ efforts – but also desperately seeking new blood.

The young Villagers won promotion to the premier division of the Yorkshire Junior League last season and so will start the upcoming term at arguably the highest level of domestic summer rugby possible at U16s level.

They kick off away to East Leeds on Sunday, March 2 (11.30am), and their first home game is against Oulton Raiders, one of two sides who have hardly been beaten in the last four years.

However, they have lost a few key players – Embleton partly blames “poaching” by West Yorkshire clubs – and have only 15 players on the books.

Said Embleton, the former stalwart first-teamer for Heworth’s open-age team: “We’ve had a sit-down with the lads and said to them we’re struggling for numbers so what should we do.

They’ve all said – and I will stand by them – that they want to have a crack at the premier league.

“We’ve had some terrible conditions in pre-season, training in shin-deep mud at times, but they’ve been through it and turned up every week.

They deserve so much praise. I take my hat off to them. We could just do with a bit of support and a few more players to come down.”

Embleton says U16s premier division teams are full to brimming with Super League club scholarship players and junior internationals.

“Our lads have done really well, coming second in division one last term and going into the premier division for the first time,” he said. “It won’t be easy, especially as we lost some good players through poaching.

These teams have England players and lots of lads at scholarships.

“We’re just looking for players wanting to play premier level. There are plenty of talented kids in York, Wetherby and the North Yorkshire area, some of whom are not currently playing.”

The Heworth team train at 6.15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Elmpark Way and play matches on Sunday mornings.

Anyone interested in joining the team can turn up at training or phone Embleton on 07796 876355 or email kennyembo@gmail.com

• Heworth Under-14s require new players. The team play in the Yorkshire Junior League, with the season starting next month, but they are short on numbers.

Anyone interested in playing or wanting further information can phone Carl Deighton on 07784 344109.