Legendary Leeds Rhinos player and Leeds Rhinos Foundation Trustee Jamie Jones-Buchanan has been awarded the MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for his services to Rugby League.
Jones-Buchanan spent 20 years playing for his home town club at Leeds Rhinos, winning every honour available in the game. He retired at the end of the 2019 season to become part of the club’s coaching team. However, he has also been recognised for his outstanding contribution to his local community and the wider Rugby League community.
The former Stanningley junior played for two decades for the Rhinos, winning seven Grand Finals, a Challenge Cup, three World Club Challenges and three League Leaders Shields in over 400 appearances. A Great Britain and England international, he has built a successful media production company away from the game with RAM Films and also is a passionate speaker about his Christian faith. He has a particular focus on defence within the coaching staff and is very much the spiritual leader of the Rhinos camp.
He is a trustee of the Foundation, a position he has held since 2012, as well as the Leeds 2023 Year of Culture and the Red Ladder Theatre Company as well as a Patron of Inspire North.
Jones-Buchanan joins fellow team mates from the Golden Generation to receive national recognition in the honours system with Kevin Sinfield having been awarded a MBE and OBE, Jamie Peacock a MBE and Rob Burrow receiving a MBE last year.
In 2019, Jones-Buchanan also received the prestigious Leeds Award, one of the city’s highest civic honours.
