Former first team player Declan Hulme will be combining playing with Championship side Workington and working for the Vikings in the community in 2016.
Hulme, 22, will be responsible for the delivery of the Sky Try programme in primary schools, as well as helping with programmes delivered at the club, such as Touch Rugby.
He said: “It’s not much of a change and I’ve had a bit of a transition in to the job. I’ve been a professional for six years so the kids know who I am and are willing to listen and ask questions.
“It’s the next best thing to playing. I know the town, I live in the town and I wanted to stay around rugby.”
Hulme made two appearances for the Vikings in 2015, and also turned out on dual-registration 11 times for Whitehaven.
It is with their Cumbrian rivals, Workington, where his future lies though, having built up a positive relationship with coach Phil Veivers during his time there in 2014, when Town were Widnes’ partner club.
“First and foremost, my aim is to get back in to Super League. I’m grateful to have a job with Widnes, but I want to be a full-time professional player.
“Hopefully I’ll get some more game time in the Championship and show that I am good enough to be in Super League.”
And if that doesn’t work out for Hulme, he is keen to stay around rugby and make use of his degree in Sports Science, from Edge Hill University,
“I’d like to work on the performance side, do a Masters in Sports and Conditioning.
“I want to do anything with sport. I’ve got my foot in the door.”
