Leeds Rhinos Women welcome new players onto Pathway to Performance Programme

Leeds Rhinos have welcomed fourteen new players onto their Women’s Pathway to Performance (P2P) programme.

The new players have joined from community clubs across Yorkshire, including Oulton Raidettes, Dewsbury Moor, Bentley, Guiseley Rangers, Drighlington, Siddal, Farnley Falcons, Knottingley Mustangs, Wetherby Bulldogs, Shawcross Sharks and Birkinshaw Bulldogs.

Pathway to Performance is a programme run by Betfred Women’s Super League Clubs for female players in their final two academic school years, with clubs allowed up to 12 players per age group.

Last year was the first year of the programme for the Rhinos and year two will see ten players move into their second season and they will be joined by the 14 new recruits. The group were welcomed to the Bartercard Training Ground at the beginning of September where they were presented with their kit and welcomed by the club's coaching staff before their first gym and training session.

Lois Forsell, Leeds Rhinos Women’s head coach, said: “We are delighted to welcome the fourteen new players into our Pathway system and look forward to helping them on their journey.  The Women’s game across Yorkshire is growing and the dedication shown by community clubs to support and develop young players is clearly working when you look at the talent coming through.  I think this new group coming in shows there is an exciting future for the women’s game and our club.”

New signings for 2025-26 are:

Polly Enright
Grace Sharp
Frankie Lamb
Faith Lowry
Alecia Lindley
Jessica Brown
Isabelle Jennings
Ava Wainwright
Daisy Buckley
Lucy Rowntree
Ava Goulding
Charlotte Riley
Mila Mackenzie
Emma Jackson

Returning players for year two are:

Lottie Johnson
Alannah Maynard
Lesley Binney
Daisy Kaye
Ffion Coward
Maya Griffin
Olivia Stead
Lydia Jones
Harleigh Lewis
Leah Unwin

The club have also announced that Leeds Rhinos Women’s player Shannon Brown will be the new head coach on P2P, having been an assistant coach for the Under-16s for the last two years.

Speaking about her new coaching position, Brown said: “I’m excited to be stepping into this role and working with some new players and continuing to help those who have been with us for the last year on their Rugby League journey.  I’ve been here since the inaugural Leeds Rhinos Women’s season and I think the game's grown massively over the last five or six years.  It is much more physical and we're pushing for our girls to not only be good rugby players, but great athletes as well.

“The Rhinos are already reaping the rewards of their development system with the likes of Ebony Stead, Ruby Walker and Ruby Bruce in the first team.”

Brown will be assisted by former Leeds Rhinos Women’s player Sophie Robinson, who returns to the club in her first coaching role.  Neil Stead also joins the coaching staff as P2P Assistant Coach and Talent ID.

Leeds Rhinos Under-19s Head Coach, Ellis Pascall, said: “This is the second season of the P2P and it sets standards for Women’s Super League teams in terms of their environments and development of players and it also challenges teams to make sure they are providing the best opportunities for players, whilst supporting them alongside their community clubs, offering them playing opportunities and growing their core skills.

“The Player Pathway is important for us and I think having a good player development framework in place from Under-16s to Under-19s to Women’s Super League is only going to help the game grow in this country.”