Hunslet winger touches down on new deal

Local product Liam Copland is the latest Hunslet player to agree a new one-year deal keeping him at the club for the 2021 season.
Liam CoplandLiam Copland
Liam Copland

Copland was spotted by Hunslet assistant-coach Gary Barnett playing for Stanningley in last year’s National Conference Division One promotion final against Featherstone Lions and made his only appearance so far for the Parksiders in a Coral Challenge Cup win over North Wales Crusaders in February.

The goal-kicking winger, who can also play at full-back or centre, said: “I’m really happy to stay at Hunslet.

“I had no plans to look anywhere else.

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Gary Thornton [Hunslet’s coach] gave me my chance by bringing me in from Stanningley and it’s just a shame the season was cut short and I didn’t have the opportunity to really show what I can do.

“I feel I have a point to prove and that’s my aim once we all start playing again.”

Thornton believes Copland, 27, has the attributes to be a success in Betfred League One.

“Liam came in from amateur rugby and made the adaptation to semi-professional rugby quite comfortably,” the coach said.

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“He struggled to make training in the early part of pre-season due to work commitments, but fair play to him for sorting that out, which allowed him to push for a place in the team.

“His attitude towards training and playing is first class and he has a thirst to learn and develop himself further, which are great attributes to have.”

“Hopefully, with a full pre-season under his belt, he will be pushing hard for a regular spot in the team.”

Hunslet were top of the table when the competition was suspended in March - and later abandoned - due to coronavirus.

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Meanwhile, Hunslet have agreed a partnership with Leeds Beckett University.

The club will offer work experience to students from the university’s Carnegie School of Sport, who will provide the Parksiders with valuable marketing expertise.

Kacy Mackreth, senior lecturer in sport marketing at the Carnegie centre, has joined Hunslet’s board.

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