Kangaroos invite Leeds Beckett players for once in a lifetime training session

Leeds Beckett University’s rugby league team have had the opportunity of a lifetime this week – training with the Australian national team ahead of the third Ashes test on Saturday.

The players got a taste of the elite game, running through drills and small games with the full Kangaroos squad on the AMT Headingley pitch which will be used for the final test of the series. Leeds Beckett enjoys strong links with the elite professional game.

Partnerships with Leeds Rhinos and other teams provide a launchpad for many students to enjoy careers as players, coaches and support staff. The Leeds Beckett mens team are coached by Leeds Rhinos Head of Pathways Talent ID Mark Butterill, who was on hand at AMT Headingley to watch the students being put through their paces by the Kangaroos.

Former NRL player James Webster, now lecturer in sport management at the university’s Carnegie School of Sport, set up today’s session. James said, “We’re extremely grateful to the Australia team for welcoming our players. The fact we’re able to offer student experiences like this is another example of how big a player we are in rugby league."

Australia’s Josh Addo-Carr, who lit up AMT Headingley with two tries against Fiji in the 2022 World Cup, said: “Today has been really good. Playing here last time was electric. Personally, I am enjoying every moment. I am a lot older than I was last time I was here, so I’m just counting my blessings. The Leeds Beckett crew were good – they helped us prepare for this game on Saturday. They are a good bunch of boys. They’ve got a bright future."

As well as being a day the Beckett players will never forget, it was also unique preparation for their own big match as they travelled to the North East on Wednesday night for a narrow defeat to title rivals Northumbria 14-6. Leeds Beckett were unbeaten last season on their way to regaining the student national title.

Leeds Beckett winger Logan Caroline-Hines, who studies Applied Sports Studies in Rugby League and is currently on placement at Leeds Rhinos as a Performance Analyst, described playing alongside the Australian national team today at AMT Headingley Stadium: “It was unreal, second to none. To play with one of the best teams in the world, with this calibre of players was such a great experience."

Full back Tom Delaney, who also plays for Dewsbury Rams, added: “It was incredible, once in a lifetime experience. I didn’t think I’d wake up this morning saying that I scored a hattrick against the Aussies and had a diving try in the corner over Josh Addo-Carr but now I can.”