Debut: Vs Castleford Tigers (H) 22/09/2023

Honours:

Prop Tom Nicholson-Watton became one of the latest Rhinos talents to progress right through the club's academy to debut for the first team in 2023.

Alongside young talent Alfie Edgell, Nicholson-Watton was brought off the bench in Leeds' final game of the 2023 season against Castleford Tigers by Rohan Smith, after impressing in the Reserves team and on loan.

Despite being a keen footballer a youngster, Nicholson-Watton chose rugby after impressing at both Guiseley Rangers and Stanningley. Signed up to the Rhinos scholarship in 2018, the prop went on to captain the captain the side in 2019, playing five games and scoring two tries in his final season before he stepped up to the Academy. He was a regular for Chev Walker's side, starting on the bench for his first two matches in 2020. He made his first start against Bradford at Headingley before the Covid lockdown, but back in action in 2021, he only played four games due to injury, scoring one try in the opening match against London Broncos.

As a Reserves player in 2022, he returned from his injury to finish the season with three appearances and was a try scorer too in defeat to Hull FC. Identified early by Rohan Smith, Nicholson-Watton featured in the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge during pre-season before going on to play six times for the club's Reserves side over the course of 2023. He also had the opportunity to play out on loan at Keighley Cougars and impressed during his six outings towards the end of the Championship season.

Nicholson-Watton has also represented both his country and county. While in the Under-16s, he was one of five players that pulled on an England shirt against Wales and scored a try in the 38-16 win. In 2021, he was part of a seven player cohort from Leeds that earned a place in Danny Wilson’s Yorkshire Academy squad and was a try scorer in the 40-10 win.