National School Finalists’ Bruntcliffe School were treated to a once in a life-time experience yesterday as they were coached by members of the Leeds Rhinos first team squad ahead of their crunch National School Final clash on Friday. Watch the footage of the lads being trained below.
Bruntcliffe are the 7th school from Leeds to reach the National Finals’ and are hoping to be the city’s first ever National School Champions when they go head to head with Dowdales School from Cumbria later this week.
The journey to the final, which takes place at London’s Brunel University, started in last year’s qualifying tournaments where they secured a top four place and progressed through to the regional qualifiers.
With strong performances throughout the regional rounds they made the semi-finals which then secured qualification to the national tournament.
Once in the national pool, the year 10 boys have come from behind in every game to finish strong and out last each of their opponents.
With the majority of the squad playing for local teams such as Drighlington, East Leeds, Farnley, Oulton and Hunslet, there is a great advert for the work local amateur clubs have done in assisting the efforts of forming a national finalists’ squad.
One of the players who has benefited from that is team captain Judah Mazive who you can see in the above video. Judah has recently been offered a second year on the Rhinos Scholarship Programme.
Due to the backing of Leeds City College, this has empowered Leeds Rugby Foundation to support high school rugby league development in the city.
The Leeds Rugby Foundation have managed and co-ordinated rugby league festivals and tournaments, coached in and out of curriculum time and now helped develop hopefully the first Leeds Champion School.
High School Development Officer and Scholarship Coach Danny Edmondson has assisted P.E teacher Ben Walker in running sessions throughout the summer and you can hear from both Danny and Ben above.
The session gave the boys a unique insight into the Rhinos preparations and advice on how to prepare for the biggest game of their lives.