Leeds Rhinos have confirmed the list of Academy and Reserves players that have departed the club at the end of the 2024 season.

The club would like to the thank them for all their efforts throughout their time in the club's development pathway.

Freddie Brennan-Jones

Prop Freddie Brennan-Jones was a late pickup by the Rhinos Academy in 2022 but was an important member of the squad that lifted the Academy Grand Final trophy at the end of the season.

Leaving Castleford Tigers to join the Rhinos, Brennan-Jones made his first Rhinos appearance for the Reserves against Hull FC on the road, before coming back home to AMT Headingley to make his bow against Warrington. In a short space of time he broke into the matchday squad, coming off the bench in the semi final win over the Wolves before starting at prop in the Grand Final victory over Castleford.

In 2023, he was a regular appearance maker for both the club's Academy and Reserves teams. Used as a starter for the Academy, he played five times over the course of the season, whilst his nine Reserves outings saw the forward score two tries in wins over Wakefield Trinity and Salford Red Devils.

Ahead of 2024, he featured seven times, scoring once in a 40-0 win over Bradford.

Mason Corbett

Hooker Mason Corbett started playing rugby at East Leeds when he was six and after winning plenty of silverware through the junior ranks, he joined the Rhinos Scholarship in 2021. First appearing in a 48-8 away win over London Broncos, he crowned the occasion with a try and went on to finish his two years in the Under-16s with three tries in nine appearances.

Stepping up to the Under-18s in 2023 as part of a cohort of twelve players, he was ever-present as a starter in his first Academy season and scored four tries and seven goals as the side finished fifth in the table. He also finished the year with a substitute appearance for the Reserves against Hull KR. 

This year, he combined playing for the Under-18s and Reserves and featured in 18 out of 24 total games, scoring two tries for the Under-18s in games against Warrington and Hull KR.

Harrison Gilmore

Prop Harrison Gilmore was picked up by the Rhinos Academy at the start of the 2022 season. Brought in from Stanningley by the Rhinos to bolster their academy forward pack, Gilmore was ever present throughout the Under-18s season and appeared in the Academy Grand Final squad that beat St Helens. He also made three Reserves appearances off the bench that year.

2023 saw him complete another full Academy season without missing a game. He added four tries too, including three consecutively against Bradford, Warrington and Hull KR during the RFL's mid-season law change trial. For the Reserves, he played five times, three as a starter, before going on to play every Reserves game in 2024.

Bobby Hartley

Prop Bobby Hartley debuted for the Rhinos Scholarship with a try against London Broncos, before backing up a strong first season under Mark Butterill by being the only player to feature in every match in 2022. He also recorded tries across consecutive games against Bradford, Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity.

2023 saw him progress into the Academy, where he was one of four players from the club to be offered a professional contract. Despite missing the first game of the year against Newcastle, he made eleven straight appearances for the Under-18s. Playing between prop and loose forward, he scored two tries in a 50-32 win over Bradford before touching down in the concluding game against Wigan at Stanningley.

This year for the Under-18s, he appeared ten times without scoring a try, plus he featured three times off the bench for the Reserves. 

Jack Iceton

Prop Jack Iceton swapped Bradford Bulls for the Rhinos towards the end of the 2023 season, initially joining the club's Under-18s side.

He finished 2023 with three total appearances, two for the Under-18s and one for the Reserves. He came off the bench in games against Wakefield and Wigan, before appearing against the Warriors' Reserves at the start of September in a rearranged fixture.

This year he battled with injury but was able to get game time in back to back Reserves games against Huddersfield and Wigan.

Ashton Robinson

Picked up from playing open age for Kippax, Ashton Robinson was given a chance to play for the Rhinos during the club's Academy Grand Final winning season.

After making his first appearance in a drop goal win over Wigan Warriors Under-18s at AMT Headingley, Robinson featured in every game for Chev Walker's side before the end of the season. Mostly used as an option at prop or loose forward off the bench, he started both the semi final win over Warrington and Grand Final victory against St Helens.

Immediately moved into the Reserves side for the next two years, he played eight times off the bench as the Rhinos finished fourth in the competition, and was given the chance to captain the side in 2024. With appearances in all twelve games last year, Robinson led the Reserves to six wins.

Matthew Rolls

Hooker Matthew Rolls joined the Rhinos Under-18s for the final handful of games towards the end of the 2024 Academy season. 

Coming off the bench in a high scoring affair against Hull KR at AMT Headingley, he also featured in games against Wakefield and Bradford Bulls, but will depart the club at the end of the current campaign.

Jacob Rushforth

Outside back Jacob Rushforth only joined the Rhinos for the 2024 season, but had his season rocked by an injury in the first months of the new year.

After appearing off the bench against St Helens in the opening game of the year, the former Siddal player had to wait until the final game of the year to get minutes back out on the field as he played on the wing in the Under-18s' closing game against Bradford Bulls.

Tayler Stephenson

Half back Tayler Stephenson was brought straight into the Under-18s Academy from Oulton Raiders, bypassing the Scholarship stage of his development.

Starting in a 84-0 win over Newcastle Thunder Academy in 2023, he played five times in the Under-18s competition, scoring once against Castleford Tigers at AMT Headingley. 2024 saw him feature only once for the Academy in a home loss to Castleford, plus he made two Reserves outings before leaving the club mid-season.

Harry Taylor

Winger Harry Taylor was a serial try scorer coming through the Scholarship and continued his form during his time in the Academy too. 

Scouted from Guiseley Rangers for the Rhinos Scholarship in 2021, he scored one try in two games during his debut season at the club, before increasing his production to six tries in as many games in 2022. Notably, he scored two tries against both St Helens and Castleford Tigers to earn the opportunity to step up to the Academy.

He opened his scoring account for the Under-18s in the first game he pulled on the Leeds shirt as he crossed in an 84-0 win over Newcastle Thunder, before going on to add three more tries in seven starts. This year's Academy season saw him score four times in eight games.

Kai Taylor-Smith

A product of Hunslet Parkside and Drighlington, full back Kai Taylor-Smith was selected for the Rhinos Scholarship in 2020 and made his one and only appearance of the season in a 48-8 win over London Broncos. The following year he bounced back as he only missed one match and recorded four tries and 37 goals to finish as the Under-16s’ top points scorer in 2022.

Making the step up to the Academy in 2023, Taylor-Smith was limited to seven Under-18s games over two years due to struggles with injury. Appearing first in a home clash over Hull FC in 2023, he had a run at full back before moving onto the winger later that year. This year, he made two appearances on the wing, including a two-try performance against Wakefield, and one game at full back against Warrington. As part of his injury recovery in 2024, he also played two Reserves games against Salford and Wigan.

Declan White

Declan White took up Rugby League at East Leeds having previously played Rugby Union, and quickly impressed the Talent ID staff at Leeds as he earned a Scholarship in 2022. Despite being selected by the Rhinos a year after his team mates were, White proved himself in six out of the seven games under Mark Butterill. He also scored his sole try of the campaign in a 52-16 win over Hull KR.

His try scoring hit a new height in 2023 as his first Under-18s season saw the prop score six times in nine games, and this year saw him score once in a home win over Huddersfield Under-18s.