The future of rugby league in Leeds is looking bright according to Rhinos young star Josh Jordan-Roberts who attended Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Sky Try 9s festival with over 39 teams competing last week.
The playoffs festival involving 39 teams from 20 schools in Leeds capped off a fantastic year of high school rugby league in Leeds with schools collecting trophies in the Sky Try Cup competition as well as the overall finalists decided in the Sky Champions Finals taking place at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on the 25th May.
After three earlier qualifying rounds prior to the playoffs at Lawnswood School, results were collated to split schools into the two tiers of competition giving every school who had played in at least two of the three qualifying rounds, something to play for on the day.
Josh Jordan-Roberts, who came through the school system in Leeds at Temple Moor High School, before being selected for the Leeds Rhinos first team squad this season, commented on the appeal of the programme:
“It’s always great to play in school tournaments and test yourself against some of other players in the city as you’re developing as a young player, so having a programme like this is beneficial on so many levels.
"Credit to the Foundation, who have clearly identified a good concept here with the 9s element, I’ve seen a lot of kids enjoying their school rugby walking around the pitches and the skill level on show has been really high, so it can only be good for the game.”
Now in its third year, the competition organised and staffed by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, was devised to offer schools the opportunity compete in more competitive rugby during the school year, through the small sided games that use a 9' a side format, all to encourage teams to rotate players and get more pupils involved in the sport.
Competitions Coordinator for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation Lois Forsell, who organised this year's competition said:
"Sky Try 9s has become a very useful development platform for schools, many of whom will have competed in the Champion Schools competition earlier in the year and can then continue developing their rugby levels with regular competition during the spring terms as well.
“Although we have winners on finals day, the more important aspect for us is to have as many schools and players competing and enjoying their rugby league as possible which the 9’a side format allows so it’s a beneficial for all involved.
Seeing success on the night were Mount St Mary’s, who finished as year 7 and 8 Sky Try Cup winners on the night with Woodkirk Academy picking up the trophy in the Year 9s age group.
In the Sky Try Champions competition, which pitted the higher seeded schools against each other on the back of the qualifying rounds, Brigshaw and Farnley Academy in the year 7 age group will join Crawshaw Academy and Farnley Academy as well as Abbey Grange and Wetherby High in the year 8 and 9 competitions at Headingley Carnegie Stadium this Thursday.
The winners and finalists:
Sky Try Champions Finalists
Y7 – Brigshaw School v Farnley Academy
Y8 – Crawshaw Academy v Farnley Academy
Y9 – Abbey Grange v Wetherby High
Sky Try Cup Winners
Y7 – Mount St Mary’s
Y8 – Mount St Mary’s
Y9 – Woodkirk Academy
The Sky Try 9s Champions Finals start from 4pm at Headingley Carnegie Stadium. Entry is free of charge.
Contact Lois.Forsell@leedsrhinosfoundation.org for more information.