England international Shona Hoyle signs for Leeds Rhinos Women

Leeds Rhinos have confirmed the signing of England international Shona Hoyle from St Helens ahead of the 2024 season.

The Halifax-born forward began her career at her local club Siddal, where she first played with Rhinos player Amy Hardcastle.  Following the birth of her son, she returned to Rugby League with Featherstone Rovers before signing for Bradford Bulls where she was part of the side that won the treble in 2017, alongside Hardcastle and Lois Forsell.

In 2019, Hoyle joined Castleford Tigers where she won the League Leaders Shield and captained the team in 2021 with Emma Lumley.  In 2022 she moved to Huddersfield Giants and then made the switch to Saints a few months later.

Last season she was in outstanding form for St Helens, playing at prop, second row and loose forward.  She was a try scorer in the Beftred Women’s Challenge Cup Final against Leeds at Wembley and was nominated for the Woman of Steel Award.

Hoyle earned her first cap in 2017 and played in that year’s World Cup.  She featured in every game for England in the 2021 World Cup and last week was part of Stu Barrow’s side that beat Wales at AMT Headingley.

Speaking about signing for the Rhinos Hoyle said: “I am really excited and glad to be back in Yorkshire.  I had a good season with St Helens and I’m now looking to bring some of my experience to Leeds.  One of the things that influenced my decision to join Leeds was to have more of a life balance, I work in Bradford so it’s a closer commute to Leeds and it will be good to be back in my home county representing the Rhinos.

“I have played with Lois at Bradford Bulls so I am looking forward to being coached by her.  I think we will challenge each other and hopefully we will bring the best out in one another.  It will be nice to play alongside Amy again and some of the girls I know from England too.  There are some talented young players coming through at Leeds and it will be good to work with them and help them develop their games too.”

Hoyle is the third signing for the Rhinos following the announcements of Grace Field and Liv Whitehead from York Valkyrie.

Commenting on the signing Leeds Rhinos Women’s head coach Lois Forsell said: “Shona is a great signing for us.  I have played with her at Bradford and England and we have been on the receiving end of some of her performances with St Helens this year. She brings a lot of aggression and physicality and that’s what we are looking for, to be a little bit tougher in and around the middle and I think it will add some real competition for us in the pack.

“Some of Shona’s honours, including Woman of Steel nominee this year, speaks volumes and I am really excited to get her signing over the line and to work with her in pre-season later in the year.”