I have written to the Sports Minister Nigel Huddlestone MP to protest the RFL and Super League’s scrapping of Hull KR’s elite academy licence.

In the letter I highlighted the impact on the club’s young academy players, whose futures have been jeopardised just as Covid chaos is ending, Hull KR’s local MP has called on the government to back Rovers’ attempt at an independent review of the decision.

On behalf of the club, the young players, the fans, and everyone who loves rugby league in this city, I am absolutely livid.

I fought hard with government during the first lockdown for extra support for rugby league clubs, preaching the valuable role that clubs like Hull KR play in their communities, only to have the game’s governing bodies make a mockery of that.

I think the idea that Hull, with all the fanaticism for the game in this city, cannot sustain two elite academies is laughable and insulting. We need to know exactly why this decision was taken and I’ll be doing everything I can to help the club with its review.