Leeds City College’s Rugby League Academy will benefit from a coaching partnership with Leeds Rhinos Foundation for the 2017/18 academic year as they take on Rugby League opposition from further education institutions across Yorkshire
Leading the team will be Leeds Rhinos Foundation Rugby League Development Officer Callum Tolson who will join Leeds City College Coach Andrew Ali to co-coach the team who play in the AoC Sport Rugby League North East League 1 West Yorkshire division.
The team, which is part of Leeds City College’s Sports Academy, will be based at the Leeds Rhinos Rugby Academy for use of the club’s training facilities as well as receiving transport from Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s mini bus during the year.
Tolson follows in the footsteps of Leeds Rhinos legend Keith Senior who coached the team up until 2014 and Development Coach Russell Parker in 2015 and 2016.
The former Leeds Rhinos scholarship and Hull KR academy player works in the West of the city delivering curriculum coaching sessions to Key Stage 1 students and working with local amateur clubs to help the development of their junior teams as well as coaching Drighlington ARLFC’s under 15s age group.
Speaking about his appointment Callum Tolson said:
“I’m really looking forward to working with the college team who have had some promising development over the past couple of seasons and have been performing well in the Yorkshire Colleges competition.
“We will have some good tests against Greenhead College, Huddersfield Giants Development team and Craven College as well as some cup fixtures, so we are looking forward to getting ready for the season and will be ready to go for the 4th October.”
Raza Siddique Rugby league coordinator at LCC said:
"Leeds City College are excited to be continuing this partnership with the Leeds Rhinos foundation. Students can still play rugby league to a high standard with an excellent education provided, it’s also not too late to get involved so any students interested are encouraged to come and find out more.”
Leeds City College will kick off their season against Huddersfield New College on the 4th October, if you would like to know more about Leeds City College’s Sports Academy visit http://www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk/student-life/sports-academy/ or email raza.siddique@leedscitycollege.ac.uk