Rhinos announce Scholarship squad for 2024

Leeds Rhinos are pleased to confirm that 37 players have committed to its 2024 Scholarship programme for the upcoming season, including 19 new Under-15s and 18 Under-16s from 11 different community clubs around Yorkshire.

The club held its annual Scholarship launch at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium to welcome new and returning players and their families into the Rhinos family. Hosted by commercial director Rob Oates, players heard from Scholarship head coach Mark Butterill as well as Mikolaj Oledzki, Morgan Gannon and Presley Cassell, who shared their experiences of coming through their early years at the club.

Nine of the new recruits: Jack Manning, Noah Lunn, Seth Marchant, Will Mathers, Alfie Steel, Jack Smith, Jacob Tooala, Brennan Townend and Liam Watson have come from Kippax Welfare.  Five players: Bailey Hardy, Sonny Hetherington, Ryan Hosier, Jack Mears and Robin Smith are from Castleford Lock Lane. 

Harry Thompson and Connor Mullins have signed from Dewsbury Moor, Connor Lawrie from Featherstone Lions, Daniel Shaw from Wakefield Hawks and finally, Samuel Oldroyd from Stanningley complete this year’s Under-15s squad.

The majority of the Under-16s are players moving into their second year at the club after featuring in matches last season. Halifax club, King Cross Park has four players in the squad, with Wade White, Kai Irvine, Tom Richardson and Hughie Tinkler all back for a second season.  Harvey Butterworth, Luke Fagan, Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Mason Peach and James Rowney from Stanningley also return along with Cobi Ellis, William Wilkinson and Caleb Rhodes from Birstall Victoria. 

Shaw Cross’ Will Hunter, Kippax's Jacob Hardy and Oulton Raiders duo Logan Staveley-Carr and Daniel Stelfox enter their second year as Scholars, whilst Siddal’s Zak Lloyd, who finished last season as one of the Rhinos Scholarship’s top points scorers, is joined by community club teammate Micah Charles, who is only new Under-16s recruit for 2024.  

Seth Marchant, who joins the Rhinos this season, said he was over the moon to be a part of the 2024 Scholarship: “I can't wait. It's something I've wanted to do all my life. When I got the offer from Leeds, that was my option straight away. The coaches are very friendly and having so many of my mates from Kippax join too is a bonus. Going into my first year with the Rhinos, it excites me for what I've got coming.”

Jacob Hardy, from Kippax, who will enter his second season at the club said: “Listening to what Mikolaj and Morgan were saying about the club going in the right direction and bringing youth through the system, I think it's a really exciting time at the club and I'm looking forward to being a part of it.”

Speaking after the event, Leeds Rhinos head of youth John Bastian said: “Youth development plays a huge part at any club that wants success. Leeds Rhinos are unbelievable with the investment that we put into our junior setup and the more teams in Rugby League that do that, we will get more players that are developing to the highest level.

“Our talent scouts have done extensive work with the new cohort of players coming in. It’s three years of building relationships with community clubs and the families of players that we've been interested in, with the hope that they'd come on board. We've got 19 really talented junior players and one of the most exciting groups that I've seen for a number of years.”

Scholarship head coach Mark Butterill added: “As a club and through Leeds Rhinos Foundation, we have strong relationships with community clubs and it's great to see a lot of them represented tonight. The coaches deserve a lot of thanks for the hard work and sacrifices that they put into these guys to get them here.

“I'm really excited to work with every single one of the players over the next few months. I think they've all got a special different quality and at our end, we need to welcome them into the club, develop them and build those platforms and foundations in order for them to move forward into the Academy.”

Under-16s

*New for 2024

Under-15s