As well as Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds, this year the Leeds Rhinos Foundation now share a close working partnership with Leeds Trinity University and their Rugby League team; ‘The Titans’ through Head Coach Richard Tate
The Leeds Trinity University Titans are rapidly becoming one of the most successful clubs at the University with 32 players currently registered to play Rugby League.
The team is coached by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation Partner Schools Officer; Richard Tate, and Leeds Rhinos Student Brand Coordinator; Josh Halliley, with weekly training sessions and video sessions at the fantastic sports facilities at Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth.
Playing fixtures on Wednesday afternoons, with home games played at the Leeds Trinity University campus, the team are competing in the BUCS Rugby League Northern 2B League, and sit currently in joint-second position in the League standings and this year reached the quarter finals of the BUCS Rugby League Northern Conference Cup.
The players & coaches have been working hard throughout this season to improve recruitment & participation of Rugby League within the University and through this hard work, the club now has 32 registered players which has allowed for the first time ever, the opportunity to enter the ‘development 9-a-side’ fixtures running alongside the weekly First Team fixtures.
LTU Titans RL are one of a growing number of University RL teams who openly encourage their players to push themselves further than just the University team which has been rewarded with players selected for the Yorkshire Regional URL Team, with one player also progressing to be selected for the North Team in the inaugural University ‘Origin’ Game.
On top of regional selection, other players in the squad have also been selected for Great Britain URL Pioneers Squad.
Two players were part also of a 20-Man Yorkshire URL Squad, along with other talented players from Universities across the Yorkshire Region, that defeated a very strong North East Regional side back in December.
The Regional Games are a massive opportunity for all the players involved to be recognised as ‘elite’ University players and progress on to the University ‘Origin’ Game and then finally to be selected to represent their Country in the University Four Nations Tournament.
One of the Titans excelled in the Regional Game and so was selected to be part of the inaugural University ‘Origin’ Game in February where he played for the winning North Origin Team against the South.
After a great year, Head Coach Richard Tate has put three of his players forward to be in contention to be selected for the GB URL Pioneers 2016 squad. Formed in 2005, the GB URL Pioneers purpose is to help develop Rugby League in new countries that are keen to take up our great game.
Last year, the Pioneers toured Bosnia & Herzegovina and this time around, one of the LTU Titans RL players will get the opportunity to play in Latvia as the team tour to Eastern Europe again in July.
Several of their players in the past few seasons have also featured for the Leeds Rhinos Academy, Bradford Bulls Academy, Featherstone Rovers Academy & Newcastle Thunder Academy teams, as well as playing for top local Amateur teams competing in the NCL and Pennine Leagues.
Interested in playing Rugby League at University?
The team are always looking to add to their squad, so if you’re currently at Leeds Trinity University or will be starting at the University in September/October 2016 then please get in touch.
Whether you are an experienced league player, fancy a change of sport, or are looking to pick up a new sport from scratch to help you get fit and healthy then they’d love to have you in the club.
The club also encourage current students at any stage in their studies to take part in our season which begins in September and finishes in April.
Please follow the team on Twitter: @TitansRL
And take a look at their Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/leedstrinityuniversitytitans/
For more info, please contact Richard Tate on richard.tate@leedsrhinosfoundation.org