Ryan Bailey and Richard Mathers took time out this week to visit their old amateur club to present much needed equipment to hopefully inspire the next generation of stars.
Leeds Rhinos stars Ryan Bailey and Richard Mathers took time out of their preparations for this Saturday's Powergen Challenge Cup Final to visit their old amateur club to present much needed equipment to hopefully inspire the next generation of stars. Bailey and Mathers both joined the Rhinos as youngsters from Milford and returned to their former club last Wednesday to present training equipment to a group of young children from the Milford club as part of a new initiative the Rhinos have put in place. Over the past eighteen months, the Rhinos have created a ground breaking partnership with Park Lane College in Leeds to help raise standards throughout the Yorkshire youth league and reward those clubs who show a commitment to excellence. Park Lane College have sponsored a full training kit as part of a Reward scheme that Leeds Rhinos started back in December 2004. Since then each club has appointed a club coordinator and, with help and advice from Leeds Rhinos, the coordinators go back and develop their clubs. Each month the Leeds Community development team hold seminars at the Kirkstall training ground for these coordinators. These seminars consist of information on how to gain Sport England's Club Mark status, Referees Seminars, and how to gain funding from experts at Park Lane College. Rhinos Head Coach Tony Smith and his very busy Coaching staff, have held two coaching seminars which saw a total of 140 amateur coaches attend to listen and watch skills being delivered. With a great partnership with the college already in place, Park Lane College saw this as a great opportunity to develop their relationship with the Rhinos and give something back to the community.