As far as role models go, Leeds Rhinos and England women’s star Caitlin Beevers is a great choice for any girl starting out on their rugby league journey.
The teenage fullback was a key member of the Rhinos’ double-winning side in 2019 and returned to her hometown of Dewsbury to meet junior players at Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s latest England Talent Pathway Player Development Day, the type of event which Beevers would regularly attend herself as a junior.
More than 35 girls from across the region attended the sessions during half term at the Tetley’s Stadium and enjoyed the chance to learn from some of the game’s top coaches, including newly appointed Leeds Rhinos Women Head Coach, Lois Forsell.
Having progressed through the community game and the Rhinos Academy system, Beevers knows that opportunities to receive such quality coaching and develop their core skills is crucial in any young player’s development.
“This is where I started with a lot of my friends in the game and it’s a really important programme. I came to camps where Lois coached me and I think that’s really what made me strive to be the player that I am today.”
“Lois has a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass on to these players. There are aspects which the coaches at their own clubs might not think about. Because she’s been at the top of the game for so long, she’s a perfect mentor and a great role model too.
“If the players keep working hard and continue performing like they have done today, then I think they’ll go in the right direction and have every opportunity to succeed.”
Women and Girls Rugby League continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in the city of Leeds, with more opportunities than ever before to get involved with playing, coaching or even officiating.
It is no surprise that Beevers’ hard work and dedication throughout her junior years has helped her to take full advantage of this growth and fulfil her ambitions of representing both club and country on some of the game’s biggest stages.
“I always aspired to be the best player that I could possibly be, which is why I took the time to attend every single one of these development days and played at grassroots level to try keep improving as a player.
“The hope was that one day there would be a Women’s Super League and a Rhinos Women’s team to play for and that’s obviously something which I’m extremely proud to be a part of now.
“I can use my own journey to show these girls that if they do want to make it to the level that myself, Lois or any of our teammates are playing at then these kind of sessions are the best way to do it.”
To find out how to get involved with Women and Girls Rugby League in Leeds, please CLICK HERE.