Nicholson-Watton joins York Knights on loan

Leeds Rhinos prop Tom Nicholson-Watton has joined Betfred Championship side York Knights on loan with immediate effect. 

Nicholson-Watton earned a Rhinos debut in last season's 46-0 victory over Castleford Tigers having spent time on loan at Keighley Cougars in 2023, making six appearances for the Cougar Park club.

The 21-year-old is a former Leeds Rhinos Scholarship captain and has represented England Under-16s and the Yorkshire Academy.

On joining the Knights, Nicholson-Watton said: "I'm really excited. This is a massive opportunity for me to get some consistent game-time under my belt at a great club like York. It's going to be great for my development and hopefully I can help the Club out and we can have some success this year.

"There's some great players and great coaches here who have got a vast amount of experience, which is only going to benefit my own game. Hopefully I can get some good game-time here and continue to develop my game."

York Knights Head Coach Andrew Henderson, who is proudly sponsored by Haxby Sports Bar, said: "I'm really excited to bring Tom to York. Tom is a young, up-and-coming talent who has been on our radar for a while and we're really fortunate that Leeds have supported and facilitated this move.

"Given where Tom is at at his stage of this stage in his development, getting regular game-time in the Betfred Championship is going to further that.

"He's a really good person first and foremost and he's got a really good rugby league IQ for a young player.

"He's an industrious player that works really hard in his effort areas who has ball-playing ability too. He certainly ticks a lot of boxes for us."

Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Rohan Smith added, "This is a good opportunity for Tom and we will be keeping a close eye on how he develops throughout the year. He had a good pre-season, worked really hard and the chance to play regularly in the Championship will help him take his game forward."

Nicholson-Watton could make his Knights debut when York travel to Doncaster RLFC on Sunday (3pm) in the side's Betfred Championship season opener.