'Everyone wants local bragging rights' - inside Hull's fierce Super League rivalry

The ink had barely finished drying on the contract Luke Gale signed with Hull FC last November before he was finding out how important the derbies with their cross-city rivals are to rugby league fans in the area.

As a veteran of confrontations against Leeds Rhinos during his time with Bradford Bulls and the clashes with Wakefield Trinity while playing for Castleford Tigers, the former England international half-back has plenty of derby experience of his own.

But Gale is already anticipating something on a completely different scale when he steps out onto the field for the Good Friday showdown against Hull Kingston Rovers, live on Sky Sports, and the Leeds native is determined to deliver victory to the western side of Hull.

"I don't think anything is going to compare to this," Gale said. "I get the impression when I run out on Friday at Craven Park, it's going to be unreal.

"It's going to be hostile, we know that, but that's what the boys want to play in. It's one I'm really looking forward to.

"I did a club promo, probably Christmas time, and literally that's all they say - as long as you get the derby. It's crazy, but that's how much it means to them and rightly so."

"It's a massive occasion and a massive game, and these are the games you want to be playing in. Everyone wants local bragging rights - myself included."

Aside from their passion for rugby league, perhaps the only thing which unites fans of Hull FC and Hull KR is Clive Sullivan, the World Cup-winning former Great Britain captain who became an icon at both clubs and whose name adorns the trophy which has been awarded to the derby winner since 2001.

Over in east Hull, Rovers head coach Tony Smith has become acutely aware of just how much the city divides on