22 Mar 2023

Rhinos Scholarship open season with Robins trip tonight

Leeds Rhinos Under-16s begin their 2023 season tonight as Mark Butterill's side travel to Hull Ionians RU to take on Hull KR Under-16s, kick off 7pm.

A new Scholarship season is always exciting as it gives fans the chance to see players start their development on the Rhinos pathway. The club welcomed 16 players from eight different community clubs in October last year and they have been working hard during their first pre-season as a Rhino.

Like in previous years, the club's Scholarship staff has focused on developing players' interpersonal skills over the last five months, as well as their rugby talent. The team got the chance to participate in workshops, a club training session with the first team, reserves and academy in January, and a team bonding morning on the beaches of Bridlington, all in preparation for the season ahead.

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This week's game against Hull KR will be the third successive meeting in as many seasons between the two clubs at Craven Park. The young Rhinos won this fixture in 2021 and 2022, notably running ten tries passed the Robins in a 52-16 win last time out.

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Team News

Butterill has named six first-year scholars in his 20-man squad for Wednesday's game.

Kings Cross Park duo Zak Lloyd and Hughie Tinkler, Stanningley's Harvey Butterworth and Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Lock Lane's Jacob Hardy and Dewsbury Celtic's Cobi Ellis are all set to make their first outing in Rhinos colours off the bench having impressed during pre-season.

Dacx is joined by his older brother Lore, who was an impact off the bench for the Rhinos in a four-match winning streak last year. He starts alongside West Bowling's Jayemm Oladipupo at prop, plus Jacob Stead, Noah Whittingham and Presley Cassell complete the forward pack. Cassell scored tries in three successive games against Bradford, Hull KR and Wakefield in 2022, whilst Stead was one of the Rhinos' highest-scoring forwards with four tries.

Marcus Qareqare was a try scorer in this fixture last year and plays his first game since the away win over Wakefield. Halfback Harry Smith, who only missed one game in his first year with the club, partners George Brown for the third time since the pair joined Leeds in 2022.

The team in full is: