There was exciting news this week with the announcement that eighteen year old Castletown rugby player Phil Cringle has signed a two year contract to join the Scottish RFU Edinburgh Academy. He is just one of five players accepted onto the Academy and this is a another step up the ladder in his bid to become a full-time, professional rugby player.
Phil, who was previously a pupil of Castle Rushen High School, has been attending Kirkham Grammar School near Blackpool for the past two years on a Gubay “Chase Your Dream” scholarship. As well as gaining access to high level coaching, this has enabled him to significantly improve the number and standard of matches he is able to play. It was in one of these matches that Phil was spotted by a scout and invited to trial for the Scotland Team (having Manx roots going back many generations, Phil is eligible to play for any of the Home Countries). He has since become a regular member of the Under 18 squad.
At a recent reception, Chris Barr, on behalf of Albert Gubay, congratulated Phil on his acheivements to date and wished him all the best for the future. Phil has also been supported by Isle of Man Sport Aid since 2009 and Gary Corkhill and Chris Quine, Chairman and Sports Performance Co-ordinator respectively, were on hand to offer their best wishes as well.
Phil commented “I would like to thank both Mr Gubay and Isle of Man Sport Aid for giving me the opportunity to go to Kirkham. I would also like to thank the staff at Kirkham, particuarlarly my Head of Sport, Mr Aled Trenhaile and my Head Master, Mr Douglas Walker who have supported me all the way the last two years to achieve this standard. I can assure everyone who has helped me that I will continue to do everything I can to progress my career in Edinburgh. I am very excited and look forward to playing at a professional level.”
Image Caption: Chris Quine (IOM Sport Aid), Chris Barr (on behalf of Albert Gubay), Phil Cringle, Gary Corkhill (Isle of Man Sport Aid)
Chris Barr commented that the Gubay Fund for Sporting Excellence congratulated Phil on his continuing success and took pride in his achievements “Phil has become a role model for others with sporting ambition to look up and follow.”
Isle of Man Sport Aid is a registered charity established by Isle of Man Sport to assist the most talented of the Isle of Man’s sportsmen and women. In 2006 Sport Aid established the Isle of Man Institute of Sport which became the Isle of Man Sport Institute when a new purpose built facility was opened at the NSC in 2009. The Gubay Fund for Sporting Excellence was also established in 2006 by local businessman Mr Albert Gubay, with the brief that financial restrictions should not be a barrier to those with the talent and drive to reach the top of their sport.
