3 Sep 2024

Rhinos sign up twelve Scholarship stars on first professional contracts

(Image Caption. Left to Right: Hughie Tinkler, Will Wilkinson, Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Harvey Butterworth, Jacob Hardy, Tom Richardson, Zak Lloyd, Logan Staveley-Carr, Daniel Stelfox)

Leeds Rhinos are pleased to announce that 12 of its Scholarship players have committed to the club by signing their first professional contracts, keeping the next generation of talent at the Rhinos for at least the next two years.

Hughie Tinkler, Cobi Ellis, Wade White, Jacob Hardy, Will Wilkinson, Tom Richardson, Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Will Hunter, Zak Lloyd, Logan Staveley-Carr, Daniel Stelfox and Harvey Butterworth have all put pen to paper on deals after they all contributed to an outstanding Scholarship season that saw the Rhinos win seven out of eight games.

The group of twelve players, who will be unveiled on the pitch at AMT Headingley Stadium during half time of the Leeds Rhinos vs Hull FC Betfred Super League fixture, will now make the step up to the club’s Under-18s Academy, where they will be coached by Tony Smith during the next stage of their development.

Zak Lloyd and Jacob Hardy featured in every Scholarship game for the Rhinos this year and were also the side’s leading points scorers. Lloyd is the latest talent out of Siddal Rugby League club to commit to the Rhinos, and proved to be a keen try scorer and goal kicker as he recorded 12 tries and 24 goals in the Scholarship. Kippax’s Hardy, who captained the side in all eight games in 2024, finished the year closely behind with five tries and 15 goals.

Speaking about deciding to stay at Leeds for the next step of his career, Hardy said: “It's every kid's dream to be a professional rugby player and to be given this opportunity to get one step closer to doing that is a privilege. I'm really excited for what's coming here at Leeds.

“It was an easy decision to stay and hopefully progress through the ranks further. I think our Scholarship head coach Mark Butterill and all the other scholarship coaches have done a really good job in preparing us physically and mentally, and improving us overall to be ready for that next step into the Academy. As a group, we’ve shown that we're really skilful and we’ve got a lot of character about us.”

Trio Hughie Tinkler, Wade White and Tom Richardson represent Halifax’s King Cross Park as they also make the step up. Centre Richardson only missed one game in 2024 and scored five tries, whilst half back Wade White scored three tries and two goals in six games. Hughie Tinkler is one of eight forwards to earn a new deal having played four games over the last two years with Leeds.

White said that the club’s track record of promoting homegrown talent through the ranks was one of the reason for committing to stay at the club. “The club gives a lot of opportunities to youngsters that are coming through in the squad,” he said. “They give players the chance to show what they are actually made of, moving up through the Academy and Reserves and into the first team. It is exciting and it gives me confidence that I have the opportunity to do that as well. It's a new step up and a challenge to move on to the next level of the sport.”

Local Leeds clubs Stanningley and Oulton Raiders are represented by two players each. Hooker Harvey Butterworth only missed two games since he joined the Scholarship in 2023, whilst his Stanningley team mate Dacx Jones-Buchanan becomes the third member of his family to step up to the Academy after his dad Jamie and older brother Lore.

Oulton forwards Logan Staveley-Carr and Daniel Stelfox will add more punch to next year’s Academy pack, alongside Birstall Victoria pair Cobi Ellis and Will Wilkinson. Shaw Cross Shark’s Will Hunter rounds off this year’s cohort, having played full back and half back during his time at the club.

Leeds Rhinos Head of Youth John Bastian was pleased to have an exciting group confirmed for 2025 and said: “We're all proud of this new group of players, having seen them evolve and develop over the last two years.

“Everybody at the Rhinos has contributed towards the development of these players, including the talent ID staff, the coaching staff, the physios, the strength and conditioners etc. I also say it every year, but I'm always very supportive of the parents and the community clubs for what they've done for these young players to be able to be in this position to sign their first professional contracts too.”

“Collectively, we've got a group of really good blokes. They're all competitive, they want to learn and get better, and ultimately we want to get them through the academy and then progressing up towards first grade. There’s no reason why this group can't connect with the current Under-17s players, who are really strong, and we can be a really successful group in 2025. It's probably one of the best group of young players I've worked with for a long time."