2nd year U16's are strong, 9 players from Kippax and 5 from Lock Lane, all the best players from the best 2 teams in Yorkshire, players to look out for:

Robin Smith - Prop
Jack Mears - 13/6
Brennen Townend - Back Row
Jacob Tooala -
Sonny Hetherington - /Fullback


With quite a few more good prospects

1st year U15's, really strange intake, with just 6 of the 20 actually playing in the top division of the Yorkshire League, the other 14 scattered between divisions 2 and 4 and RU. Quite a few of the obvious better players in the Yorkshire league are crossing the penines to Wigan/Warrington etc, on the surface, it looks like we've missed on quite a few. Some could be decisions on what the club think they can become, rather than what they are now, but know we missed on one with big potential who chose Huddersfield over us.

The best U14 team in this age group are West Hull, but we dont seem to look anywhere other than our doorstep these days, which is really dissapointing, Kells U14 in Cumbria are a great team, with lads going to Wigan/Warrington, who recruit from all the hotbeds, but we dont bother. On a side note, the Scholarship players of the year at Saints and Warrington were lads from Siddal

But yeah, apologies for waffling on, strange, but interesting, intake of first years this year

Very encouraging at this pivotal time. Given the expansion of the NRL and wider proposed changes to the game, a strong academy and production line of talent will become invaluable for the sustainability and success of clubs in the future. It could well see power shifts to those clubs that invest in the future. Those that don't may wish they had. 

I watched yesterdays Academy game and Yorkshire totally dominated Lancashire throughout the game,and the scoreline proves this without a doubt.
The Lancashire side was predominantly made up of Wigan,Saints and Wolves players, and the fact that Leeds had 11 players in the Yorkshire squad certainly bodes well for the club.


These are very promising times for our junior players that are currently on the scholarship and academy pathways within the club.
The Rhinos academy system is probably in it's best shape since the golden generation emerged.


In the 2004 Grand Final, Leeds had 10 Academy produced players within our 17 man squad.
It certainly looks like the club are certainly going back to this blueprint,Which will hopefully provide sustained success in the coming years.

that's great to hear

Good win for the reserves away at Wigan 26-60, impressive.

Another big win for the reserves last night, with 11 (i think) u18s playing, including Hardy and Lloyd who are u17s. Also Ben Littlewoods return from injury. 


We really do seem to be dominating at every level this season, very hopeful for this next crop