YORK City Knights are to join a posse of leading top-flight clubs in a groundbreaking new initiative which has been described as a "powerful statement about the inclusiveness and values of rugby league".

The Knights, alongside the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Warrington and Wigan, are to have a team in a new Learning Disabilities Super League, an enterprise which gives people with learning disabilities an "unparalleled platform to stay active, make friends, develop skills and achieve their dreams".

The programme - formed by a partnership between Super League, the Rugby Football League and national social care charity Community Integrated Care - will feature an adapted non-competitive version of rugby league in a series of high-profile festivals and events.

It has been designed for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia, and will be launched at Betfred Super League’s Magic Weekend at Anfield in May - providing one of the biggest-ever crowds for a learning disability sport event.

Along with York, the other 11 founder clubs who have or will establish learning disability teams are Super League big-guns Castleford Tigers, Huddersfield, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, Salford Red Devils, St Helens, Wakefield Trinity, Warrington and Wigan, plus York's fellow Championship side Widnes and League One outfit Newcastle Thunder.

Mark Adams, the chief executive officer of Community Integrated Care, said: “We believe this collaboration will become one of the most significant inclusive sports programmes in the world.

"This initiative gives people with learning disabilities an unparalleled platform to stay active, make friends, develop skills and achieve their dreams.

"By providing people with the opportunity to represent the clubs they love, become Super League players, and be part of the game’s biggest events, such as Magic Weekend, the sport is not only changing people’s lives but also making a powerful statement about the inclusiveness and values of rugby league."

The new learning disabilities team will be another branch of the expanding York City Knights set-up.

Their first team were promoted to the Betfred Championship this year and their ladies' team are currently gearing up for their second campaign in the elite Women's Super League. The Knights also have an EXCEL scholarship programme for juniors now into its third year.

The Learning Disabilities Super League, meanwhile, is the first-ever example of a professional sports league sharing its brand with a learning disability sports programme.

The initiative was revealed today at Community Integrated Care’s annual conference at Old Trafford, home of Super League's Grand Final and the venue for the 2021 men's and women's Rugby League World Cup finals.

The launch event was hosted by Sky Sports presenters Terry O’Connor and Brian Carney and featured contributions from Warrington hooker Danny Walker, Leeds forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Wigan second-row Willie Isa, and St Helens prop Luke Douglas, who have all signed up as ambassadors for the programme.

A press release said the new programme was part of a "wider strategic partnership between Community Integrated Care, the Super League and the RFL" and aimed to "promote the development of skills, confidence and positive experiences for people with learning disabilities, and make a major statement about social inclusion".

Robert Elstone, CEO of Super League, said: “I would like to thank Community Integrated Care for presenting this groundbreaking opportunity to Super League.

"The passion and commitment shown to date to get this project underway bodes well for a partnership that will reward all participants in so many ways.

"Not only will this deliver amazing opportunities for all the players, and experiences that will live in the memory for lifetimes, it will also endorse everything that Super League stands for.

"Our clubs sit at the heart of proud communities and bring people together every day of the year.

"The Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League will widen that reach and amplify these special qualities.”

Ralph Rimmer, chief executive of the RFL, said: “As a governing body we are extremely proud of our work in developing both physical disability and learning disability rugby league over the past 12 months.

"To have a partner of the calibre of Community Integrated Care come on board is really exciting and they will add real value as we look to develop this format."

"The work the club foundations have done in giving players with a learning disability the chance to experience rugby league has been first class and we look forward to working with Super League, foundations and Community Integrated Care to continue to deliver some unprecedented playing opportunities.”