Emerald Headingley Stadium has hosted many memorable games in its 128 year history and last week marked another historic occasion for the famous stadium, with the first home games for Leeds Rhinos Women and Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Physical Disability Rugby League team.
The double header of rugby was a day to celebrate for Leeds Rhinos Foundation, who continue to break down barriers to make sport accessible for everyone.
The charity’s development work in schools and local community clubs has seen a rise in the number of female players participating in rugby league and players from local clubs came along to take part in a pre-match festival and to cheer on the city’s first Women’s Super League team.
Following the Women’s win over local rivals, Castleford Tigers Women, which moved them to second in the league, Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Physical Disability Rugby League faced their counterparts from the Tigers.
Back in February Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s PDRL team, who are sponsored by Chadwick Lawrence, competed in the UK's first PDRL game against Warrington Wolves Foundation. Both sides were joined by special guest players, channel 4's The Last Leg stars, Adam Hills and Alex Brooker. Hills represented the Wolves and Brooker, who is a Rhinos fan, came on for the Rhinos in his Rugby League debut.
Since that first match, the PDRL concept has grown even more, with teams from Castleford and Wakefield now running their own PDRL teams and Leeds Rhinos Foundation has continued to attract more players to their side, who train regularly with Leeds Rhinos Foundation coaches.
Chris Godfrey, disability co-ordinator at Leeds Rhinos Foundation, said the day was the perfect showcase for everything the charity stands for – to change lives through sport.
“It was a great day and celebration of all the work we do at Leeds Rhinos Foundation,” Godfrey said. “I think our lads showed up well and put in a good performance, worked well for each other in defence and attack so I couldn’t ask for much more from them. Each PDRL team has their own challenges to get through and differences in their players, dependent on what their abilities are.
“Our lads have been together for around 3-4 months now and they have bonded well and stick together. I think Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Leeds Rhinos did a great job to put on the day, where we had Women’s Super League in the morning and it’s great as it shows everybody, not only our commitment to be inclusive but also showing everyone in the community that everyone has something to aim to and aspire to. To be able to put your boots and shorts on and play for Leeds Rhinos on the Emerald Carnegie pitch with a big crowd watching, you couldn’t really ask for much more.”
For Leeds Rhinos Women and PDRL players, many of whom have grown up supporting Super League champions, Leeds Rhinos, the chance to play on the Headingley pitch was a day they will never forget.
Dan Roberts, captain of Leeds Rhinos Foundation PDRL, said: “It meant everything to me to represent the Rhinos and play on the Emerald Headingley pitch. I’ve had a season ticket here for years so to actually get out and play was fantastic for me and it really meant a lot. It was brilliant to see a big crowd here and supporting this great concept. Everyone in our team has their own battles with their different disabilities but they are coming into an environment where everyone is in the same boat, knowing that when we step out on that pitch everyone has got your back and willing to gee you up if you are feeling a bit down, it’s great and we have a really good team spirit.”
For more information on playing or supporting Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s PDRL team email chris.godfrey@leedsrhinosfoundation.org