Leuluai and McGuire amongst new inductees into Leeds RL Hall of Fame

Four new inductees to the Leeds Rugby League Hall of Fame were unveiled at the club's annual Hall of Fame lunch on Tuesday night at AMT Headingley. 

Over 440 guests were in the Howard Suite at AMT Headingley to witness the induction of the 2025 Leeds Rugby League Hall of Fame members. 

The event is always one of the highlights of the year at AMT Headingley as we gather together to induct the next four members of the Leeds Rugby League Hall of Fame. It is a must-be-at event for any Rhinos fan, young and old, as legends of the club's history come together on an afternoon of celebration.

The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Premiership Final win, 20 years on from the 2005 World Club Challenge win and a decade after the Treble in 2015. 

The first inductee on the night was a legendary player from the earliest days of the club's history, former Welsh Rugby Union player Frank 'Bucket' Young. He earned his nickname for his assuredness under the high ball and was also one of the first players to master goal kicking in the early days of the sport. A Challenge Cup winner in 1910, Leeds first ever trophy, his Great Grandson and Great Great Grandson travelled from their home in Bristol to accept the award and learn more about their legendary relative. Hall of Fame member Garry Schofield OBE presented the family with the specially created silver salver and certificate to mark the occasion. 

The 34th inductee to the Leeds Rugby League Hall of Fame was Bill Ramsey, who becomes the first player ever to be inducted into both the Hunslet Hall of Fame and Leeds RL Hall of Fame. After a brilliant career as a youngster with Hunslet, he moved to Leeds in 1967 after his time South of the River was cut short by a wrist injury suffered whilst on tour with Great Britain. 

He won a Championship with Leeds in 1969, the Challenge Cup in 1968 and finished as a League Leader on four occasions between 1967 and 1972. Members of his family, including Paul Pickup, collected his award with Hall of Fame member Barry Seabourne inducted Bill into the Hall of Fame. 

The night also saw members of the 1975 Premiership winning side celebrated with four members of the team at AMT Headingley on the night including Harry Sunderland Award winner Mel Mason, who travelled up from his home in Bournemouth to meet up with his team mate, some for the first time since the 1970s. Prop Steve Pitchford and Roy Dickinson were joined by second row Phil Cookson. Hall of Fame member Pitchford said, "It was the youngest front row Leeds had ever fielded in a final. Roy was 17, David Ward was 18 and I was the old man at 20. I remember Roy Francis saying to us 'they may have a pack full of star names but you have got the edge because no one knows who you are, just out and kill them!"

Twenty years after the club became World Club Champions for the first time, members of the 2005 squad were well represented. Willie Poching flew in from his home in Auckland and there was also Richard Mathers, Keith Senior, Danny McGuire, Barrie McDermott, Kevin Sinfield, Danny Ward and Jamie Jones-Buchanan along with other members of the squad who missed out at Elland Road in Matt Diskin, Lee Smith and Nick Scruton plus Head Coach Tony Smith. 

Finally, members of the 2015 squad and backroom team were also present. As well as those who were involved in 2005, Joel Moon had flown from Australia to be at the reunion along with Jamie Peacock, Jimmy Keinhorst, Kylie Leuluai, Tom Briscoe, Stevie Ward, Brett Delaney, Brad Singleton along with current Rhinos players Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall and Ash Handley. 

Jamie Peacock inducted our next member of the Leeds RL Hall of Fame with Kylie Leuluai, the most successful overseas signing in the club's history and most appearances by a New Zealander in the club's history. 

Finally, record breaking try scorer and 2017 Grand Final winning skipper Danny McGuire was inducted by Kevin Sinfield to conclude a fantastic occasion at AMT Headingley.