Over the summer, 450 young players from across the city, took part in the annual North v South series, which is run by Leeds Rhinos Foundation in partnership with Hunslet RLFC and with support from RAM Films.
The series celebrates the historic Leeds rivalry between the north and south of the city, with players wearing the traditional blue and amber colours of Leeds for the North teams and the myrtle and flame of Hunslet for the South. After a six-week training block the players tested themselves against their opponents in a fixture at Hunslet’s South Leeds Stadium and then AMT Headingley.
The concept behind North v South is to give opportunities for players not connected to a professional club’s Scholarship or Academy to gain further experience in a competitive environment and showcase their talents. The aim is to keep more players engaged with the game and to also help upskill coaches in a new environment.
30 community clubs and volunteers supported the series across ten fixtures and for the first time ever there was also an opportunity for female players to put their skills into practice on the AMT Headingley pitch.
In previous years, players who have been part of the North v South programme have gone on to represent the Rhinos at Academy or Reserves level, including Oliver Smart.
The programme will be fully aligned to the Rhinos Talent Pathway with opportunities for progression, providing a unique chance for the stars of tomorrow to experience training in a professional environment and play two competitive fixtures in top class venues.
Craig Shepherd, Rugby League Development Officer for Leeds Rhinos Foundation, who has led on the Series, said: “The last seven weeks have been fantastic, providing some brilliant Rugby League development opportunities for young players.
“To offer these experiences to more than 450 young players has been remarkable, and it has been fantastic to see so many players develop and progress.
“We’ve already seen players move into performance pathways, not only here in Leeds but at other clubs too, which is a real testament to the opportunities this programme provides.
“A huge thank you to OXEN for providing training T-shirts for the players, and to Naturally Best for keeping more than 300 young people fuelled throughout their time at AMT Headingley Stadium. Their support has helped make the programme a worthwhile and memorable experience for everyone involved.”