From East Hull to England Community Lions
Harlee Gilson, a current BTEC Level 3 Science student, has been showing his talent on the rugby field and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Harlee has been playing rugby since the age of four, and years of commitment to the sport have now seen him earn recognition at national level, with even greater opportunities ahead.
In 2024, Harlee was offered a scholarship with Hull KR while in Years 10 and 11, helping him further develop his abilities before joining the college and enrolling onto the KR Development Programme. Alongside the Development Programme Harlee has been playing for East Hull Rugby Club’s under 18s squad, gaining valuable competitive experience.
Earlier this academic year, Harlee was invited to attend trials for the England Community Lions under-17s squad. The trials took place in February, and he received the news while at college after a phone call from his mum informing him, he had been selected for the next stage. Harlee shared “I was shocked when I heard the news.” When Harlee attended the trial, he mentioned that “The trial process involved skills and drills sessions alongside multiple matches, allowing coaches to see what position we played best in.”
Harlee mentioned out of all the 180 players that were nominated for the trials only 40 were selected to be in the under 17s England Community Lions. The 2026 squads were announced on 3 April, confirming Harlee’s place in the England Community Lions Under-17s Regional Squad.
From this summer, Harlee will travel to represent the England Community Lions in fixtures against Scotland and Wales, as well as taking part in an international tour in France.
Everyone at Wilberforce is incredibly proud to support Harlee during this exciting stage of his sporting journey and looks forward to seeing his continued success both on and off the field.
