Two products Skolars acquired from the university game have agreed to resign for the 2016 season, bringing some much needed experience and physicality to the already exciting squad. These players are utility back John Paxton and Prop Michael Sykes.
Both originally hailing from Cambridgeshire, they were introduced slightly later than most to rugby league by their local amateur club St. Ives Roosters where they thrived, playing a key part for the club in its most successful period. They continued their development as players when they took up scholarships with Leeds Met university, the country’s most successful university side. During their spell there they again, enjoyed great success winning multiple national championships. They were also both selected to represent Great Britain students on their winning ashes tour down under in 2011, with Sykes winning man of the match and scoring the winning try in the series decider.
Since joining London Skolars towards the end of the last decade, both have gone on to be regular fixtures in the first team seventeen. Testimony to this, John Paxton joined an elite few at London Skolars, reaching one hundred games for the club. Both are tipped to have strong seasons this year and have been key figures at training vocally and in terms of performance. Michael Sykes will be proudly sponsored by the Student Rugby League Alumni for the forthcoming season.
Michael Sykes had this to say on the announcement ‘I’ve been at the club a long time and although I had other offers, I always wanted to stay here as it’s a club I love. Another major reason for re-signing was our exciting playing group for this season which has some really good high level experience as well as some exciting youth. I think the quality of training and structures put in place by the staff has enhanced this even further and 2016 is going to be a good year, one for fans to be excited about.’