FOX TAKES TOP YOUTH RUGBY ROLE

The Giants are delighted to be able to announce that Steve Fox has been promoted to become the new Head of Youth at the club whilst maintaining his hands on approach as Head Coach of the Academy

On accepting the role, Steve spoke of how proud he was to be one of a limited number of Head of Youth positions in Rugby League and praised the pathway for staff here at the Giants.

“I’m just extremely proud! There's only 12 Head of Youth positions, probably throughout the country when you look at the Betfred Super League and a couple of the Championship clubs. To be offered that position. I'm just extremely proud to be leading this club in the youth department."

 "The club is in a real exciting transition period for me. There's been some really good progressions so far already. There's a pathway for staff to develop and progress forward, and we're starting to see that, especially, if you work hard and you're dedicated to the Giants and you're showing you believe in the club, then they're rewarding you in that way. But there's also the fact that my 5 year journey continues and I go back to the initial interview with Andy Kelly where I knew that this was going to take 5 or 6 years. I knew it couldn't happen overnight.”

The club has had a history of producing players, and Steve has had a huge hand in that already with last year's academy producing four members to this year's Super League squad in Logan Blacker, Jacob Algar, Marshall Land and Archie Sykes. He believes the future is bright for youngsters coming through, and is keen to see the pathway at the Giants bear more fruit than ever before.

Seeing youngsters come through and fulfil their dream is something Steve and the rest of the Giants Youth staff can be proud of, and the recent emergence of many young talent at Head Coach Luke Robinson’s disposal, is an achievement in itself, but making them into young men, from young boys is another and that is something that is at the forefront of Fox’s mind.

“It's what you do your job for. I say it to the talent identification scouts, they identify the players, along with myself, it’s not only progression as a player, but making them better people as well and more grounded and I think that's important is the development of their life skills.

"You feel like a proud father when that player steps on the field and plays for the, for the 1st team, and you know, to see the likes of Jacob Algar, Marshall Land, Archie Sykes, Lewis Jagger making their debuts and Logan Blacker knocking on the door. I’m getting really good reports from Luke Robinson and Liam Finn, Leroy Cudjoe too and it’s just brilliant. It's absolutely fantastic.” 

As mentioned, Steve will be remaining as Head Coach of the Academy side, a role that he didn’t want to relinquish, and one that he is pleased to be continuing after a great year of progression in 2025. 

Director of Rugby, Andy Kelly, is pleased that the reins of Head of Youth are being passed on to a coach, more than capable of taking the pathway at the Giants forward, in a positive way and a way that can only mean fantastic things for the future of the club.

“I have been in the Head of Youth position for almost 12 years, and seen some marvellous strides from various members of staff who have cared passionately for the job; none more so than Steve Fox. As I hand over the mantle of Head of Youth, I hand it to someone who is more than capable of evolving the whole process and producing future Giants and players we can be proud of in Super League.”

“The players we are now seeing making their debuts in Super League, are the product of the hard work of Steve over the long time he has been with us and the talent ID staff led by Sean Folan. The one thing that remains constant is the dedication of everybody, whether that be volunteer or paid staff, who help with the pathway for the Huddersfield Giants.”