Leeds Rugby Foundation, thanks to the continued generous backing of Leeds City College, has hosted 13 rugby league tournaments across the city for high schools, which involved 62 teams and 1054 players.
The idea behind the tournaments is to create a pathway for school teams to be prepared for the Carnegie Champion Schools Competition, the largest of its kind in the world featuring schools from across England.
Community clubs across Leeds were used as venues, namely Whinmoor Warriors, Hunslet Warriors, Hunslet Parkside, Wetherby Bulldogs, Milford Marlins and Stanningley, allowing them to further foster their links with their local schools.
Also involved in the delivery were Hunslet Hawks community team, led by Steven Parnell and Leeds Rhinos Academy stars Mathew Nicholson and Clayton Stott.
The top two teams from each tournament came together to play in a series of ‘Final Qualifiers’ which took place at the Leeds Rugby Academy. The top four teams from that then qualified for the Carnegie Champion School Competition.
Leeds Rhinos Development Officer Jonny Wainhouse commented, “After having so much success over the last years few years with a number of Leeds Schools progressing to the Carnegie Champion Schools Finals, it is very rewarding for the people and the organisations that have been involved.”
“A big thank you must go to Leeds City College for their continued support, the community clubs involved and also to the schools who give their pupils an opportunity to play. We wish the schools who have qualified this year the very best of luck.”
The Leeds schools that qualified for the Carnegie Champion Schools are:
Year7
Corpus Christi, Brigshaw, Woodkirk and Temple Moor
Year 8
South Leeds Academy, Bruntcliffe, Preisthorpe, Carr Manor
Year 9
Temple Moor, Bruntcliffe, John Smeaton, David Young Community Academy
Year 10
Lawnswood, Temple Moor, Preisthorpe, Woodkirk
Year 11
Bostan Spa, Temple Moor, Corpus Christi, Brigshaw