Rhinos unveil Ian Blease as new Sporting Director

Leeds Rhinos have announced Ian Blease, 59, as the club’s new Sporting Director, having joined the club from Salford Red Devils.  

Blease has enjoyed a successful spell as Director of Rugby and Operations at Salford Red Devils having rejoined the club he played for over a decade in 2016. During his time on the board at Salford, he has helped transform the fortunes of the Super League side, with successes including a 3rd place finish in the league, a trip to the Grand Final, and a Challenge Cup Final.

The newly created role of Sporting Director at the Rhinos will provide strategic direction, leadership and oversight of the rugby department at Leeds Rhinos as a member of the club’s Board of Directors. The new wide-ranging role will oversee all age grades at the club along with support for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s RL Development Plan.

The Sporting Director will oversee the Rugby League operation, providing leadership for the coaching and playing staff in line with the club’s strategy and vision, management of salary cap compliance, player and staff recruitment and retention, and the youth development and medical departments.  

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington, who will hand over control of the rugby operations for only the second time in nearly three decades, commented, “This is a significant new appointment by the Leeds Rhinos Board of Directors who are committed to investment throughout our organisation to accelerate excellence and success on and off the pitch.

“The new Sporting Director will focus fully on overseeing the Rhinos Rugby League Department and will provide support for the Head Coach, Management, staff and players who are all striving to improve our performance and results.

“We are competing in the most competitive Betfred Super League competition to date and the quality and depth of top-class management at most clubs has never been better.  This can and does make a difference and whilst we are all facing real financial challenges, this is part of the Rhinos strategy to strengthen our Grade “A” rating and compete at the top level,” added Hetherington.

Blease, who will start his new role on 17^th June, commented, “I think this is an exciting time to be joining such a historic and iconic club with a heritage that is known world wide. From speaking to Gary and other board members, I know that my role is clear. I can come in and take over the rugby side of things which will begin with in depth scrutiny of what is working well and what needs to happen to take us forward, I will then report back to the board to make those adjustments, where necessary. It is a new era for the club. I think we can both learn a lot from each other with the goal of getting the club back to where it needs to be, at top of Super League and winning trophies again. 

“I am looking forward to getting to know everybody. From the outside, I have always had huge admiration for how the Rhinos and AMT Headingley operate. I have enjoyed every minute of my time as a player and administrator at Salford and it has taken one of the biggest jobs in world Rugby League for me to leave the club.

“I would ask three things of the Leeds fans. Firstly, get behind the team starting this week at Hull FC, what makes the Rhinos special is the incredible family that is the club’s fanbase, with you behind the team it gives the guys such an advantage. Secondly, I ask them for their patience. This is a new and exciting role that I believe will give us a strategic direction and identity going forward that everyone, players, coaches and supporters can believe in. But it will take hard work and time however, once in place, we will all enjoy the success together. Finally, help us make AMT Headingley a fortress once again. I know that Leeds fans want their team to play with flair but I also remember all too well from my playing days that whilst Iestyn Harris was producing some magic it came on the back of the opposition being taken on up front by the likes of Barrie McDermott, Adrian Morley and Darren Fleary. We will be working hard to create an identity to be proud of in the years ahead and that starts here at home.”