Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Beckett University strengthen partnership to boost student Rugby League

Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Beckett University have announced a continuation of their development programme for student Rugby League with the Rhinos Scholarship Head Coach Mark Butterill set to lead the university’s mens Rugby League team next season.  

Butterill has an extensive track record of developing some of the best talent in the country through his role at the Rhinos and he will now have an added responsibility for nurturing student talent. 

Butterill will work with Jamie Jones-Buchanan, the Rhinos Director of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, who led the university’s mens team last season as they reached the BUCS Final with an undefeated regular season campaign. 

Jones-Buchanan commented, “I was impressed with the standard in the student game last season and I know that Mark will do an outstanding job as Head Coach of the mens team next season. We lost out to the University of Northumbria in our Grand Final last season and the growth of the student game has been demonstrated by the fact that Championship side Newcastle Thunder have now incorporated the student game into their youth development programme. 

“The Rhinos have a comprehensive talent identification programme from school age players right through to those in further education through our links with colleges and the community game. Our partnership with Leeds Beckett University allows us to cast the net even further with young players attracted to the university from across the country and the world with the chance to be coached by professional coaches, who are part of an elite development programme, proving to be a real attraction to talented players,” added Jones-Buchanan. 

Butterill added, “I am delighted to be given the role and for Jamie's confidence in me to follow on from the great work he did last year. This is a great opportunity to strengthen not just the partnership between the Rhinos and Leeds Beckett but also the professional game and student Rugby League. As an example, last season, Jamie was able to utilise the experience of Blake Austin to work with the players and a number of student players had the chance to train and play with the Rhinos Reserves.  

The university’s association with Leeds Rhinos has been ongoing for over a decade, with players, coaches and staff from the club’s men’s, women’s, wheelchair, and netball teams able to access the university’s state-of-the-art facilities and receive academic support to gain a competitive advantage on the pitch. 

Dan Stanley, Head of Sport Health & Wellbeing at Leeds Beckett University said: “I would like to welcome Mark on board as we look to grow on the achievements of last season. Mark's experience brings a wealth of knowledge and skills that will really benefit the rugby league programme going forward.”

Find out more about the university’s partnership with Leeds Rhinos by visiting the Leeds Beckett website.