Huddersfield Giants have announced the signing of local product Jacob Fairbank on a 3-year full time deal at the club.

Prop Forward Fairbank is the nephew of former Great Britain International Karl Fairbank, and the 19 year old has recently returned from a Great Britain Community Lions tour of Australia.

Richard Thewlis, Managing Director, commented:

"It is great that we are able to offer another locally based player the chance to be a full time professional Rugby League player and I am sure that Jacob will relish the opportunity. He has not come through the traditional system but took a route that enabled him to tour Australia which I am sure will have benefited him enormously and again demonstrates that there is more than one way to ultimately earn the dream of being a full time Super League player."

Damian McGrath, Head of Youth Performance commented:

“Jacob comes from a very famous Rugby League family with a number of his uncle’s playing to a very high standard throughout the game. Jacob is a real chip off the old block, he is a very tough uncompromising forward who was outstanding for the Academy team in 2007. At the time, he was completing his apprenticeship and had aspirations to tour Australia with the Great Britain Community Lions. He continued to play with Amateur status for the Giants in the Reserve team and did so very well. On his return from Australia, we are delighted he has signed his full time professional contract.”

“We have players in all positions pushing for full time contracts and it reflects very well on the club and its policy of recruiting talented juniors and then promoting them when they see fit. It’s good news for us and a beacon for other talented young players that there is a clear pathway for them to aspire too.”

Jacob Fairbank commented:

“Signing a full time deal is fantastic for me; it is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m delighted to be following in the footsteps of members of my family in signing professional terms. The club is really going places and I’m looking forward to developing as a player under a quality coach in Nathan Brown. I can’t wait to start working hard to improve my game in the full time environment.”

“Touring with the GB Community Lions was the experience of a lifetime and something I enjoyed immensely. It was a good life experience and we managed to play against the Australian Schoolboys, which is not something a lot of people get the chance to do.”

think should let him out on loan to his hometown club.
good signing.

yeah we should let him go on loan to halifax i played agains him a u15s what a tank he was he most of made about 50 tackles and took about 30 drives

i was thinking about Jack the old fartown and leeds player showing my age now