MEETINGS aimed at forming closer links between Latchford Albion and Latchford Giants have been described as “productive.”

Albion’s youth and junior section split from the club to form the Giants in January 2016 and added an under 18s side to their portfolio ahead of the 2017 season.

However, steps have been made to bring the clubs closer together thanks partly to the input of Warrington Wolves prop Mike Cooper, who is director of rugby at Albion and a community ambassador for the Giants.

Albion chairman Mike Byron says it is important for both sides to find common ground so players of all ages can enhance their development.

“We are not a club who sits idle and awaits something to happen,” he said.

“We have noticed a recent trend in recent years where for one reason or another players were lost to the game, this we discovered was a rugby league problem and not just Latchford Albion.

“We have taken steps to put a solid infrastructure in place to ensure we can offer a clear pathway whatever age they are and want to make the transition from junior to senior as simple as possible.”

Giants secretary Andrew Mallows Wood added: “For the Giants and Albion to work together and form ever closer links is a vital step and I hope one that will lead to a much closer relationship in the future.

“It is important to us that the players we coach enjoy their rugby and can develop as people and players and can have an outlet to play open age in the future.

“I would like to thank the input of Mike Cooper, Lee Mitchell, Lee Birchall and Phil Jones for helping to cement this relationship and I am sure going forward in the future their will be a closer merging process.”