Full name | Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Football Club |
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Nickname(s) | Rhinos The Loiners |
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Website | therhinos.co.uk | ||
Founded | 1870 | ||
Ground | Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Headingley, Leeds (Capacity 20,500) |
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Key people | Paul Caddick (Chair) Gary Hetherington (Chief Executive) Brian McDermott (Coach) Kevin Sinfield (Captain) |
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League | Super League | ||
XVI position | 5th | ||
Championships | 8 | ||
Challenge Cups | 11 | ||
World Club Champions | 2 | ||
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Current season |
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League competition. The club's home is the 20,500 capacity Headingley Stadium, which is in the suburb of Headingley, northwest Leeds. One of the oldest clubs in the world, Leeds Rhinos is owned by the same company that owns the Leeds Carnegie rugby union team. The club is the third most successful rugby league club in England behind only Wigan and St Helens, as judged by the number of combined Championships and Challenge Cups won.
The club was founded under the Rugby Football Union in 1870. In 1895 Leeds was one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that broke away from the establishment and formed what is now the Rugby Football League, making it one of the world's first rugby league teams. Leeds won its first Challenge Cup final in 1910, and has gone on to win it eleven more times. The club did not win its first championship until 1961. Since then it has won seven in total, as well as two World Club Challenge titles. Leeds was one of the original twelve Super League clubs when rugby league became a summer sport in 1996. TheRhinos nickname and logo was introduced in 1997.[1] On 10 October 2009, Leeds won the Super League Grand Final against St Helens at Old Trafford, 18β10 meaning that Leeds became the first club to be Super League champions three seasons running.[2]
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In 1864, H. I. Jenkinson placed an advert in the Leeds Mercury inviting players to meet up at Woodhouse Moor a few days a week from 7am to 8am. That advert attracted over 500 members. From this interest several clubs were formed including Leeds St John's.[3]
Leeds St John's was formed in 1870 and was originally known as the "Old Blue and Ambers". The club played at the Militia Barracks from 1870 to 1888 before moving to Cardigan Fields, near Headingley, Leeds .[4] Membership was originally confined to the church classes but was soon expanded. By 1887 St John's had reached its first cup final, the Yorkshire Cup losing to Wakefield Trinity.
The city of Leeds had an abundance of rugby football clubs and although members of the Yorkshire RFU[5] (which was in turn a constituent body of the RFU), it was decided to form a βmore localβ association. It was for this reason that the Leeds & District organization was formalised when a meeting took place at the Green Dragon Hotel, Leeds on the 27th September 1888. The foundation clubs were Bramley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Kirkstall, Leeds Parish Church, Leeds St Johnβs and Wortley.[6]
In 1888 the Cardigan Estate was sold at auction and Lot 17a was purchased by a group of Leeds citizens, who intended to form the city's leading sports club. Lot 17a became what is now Headingley Stadium.
Leeds St John's played its final season under that name in 1889β90, before becoming the football section of Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic Co Ltd the following season. With Headingley still being completed, Leeds' first game was staged at Cardigan Fields, the home side defeating Otley. The first game at Headingley was played on 20 September 1890, when Manningham were beaten by one try and one dropped goal to nil.
In 1892,27,654 spectators β a then record in British rugby β attended the third round showdown between Leeds and Halifax at Headingley.[7]
Leeds was a founder member of the Northern Union when it broke away from the Rugby Football Union in 1895. Leeds' dΓ©but in the Northern Union was a 6β3 success at Leigh on 7 September 1895, the inaugural day of the new competition.[8]
In 1901, the Leeds Parish Church team disbanded and put all of its players at Leeds' disposal. That same year saw the formation of the Northern Rugby League, with a number of leading clubs leaving the Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League and joining the new competition. Leeds was not admitted until the following year when it was placed in the newly formed second division and quickly gained promotion as runners-up to Keighley.
Leeds City FC joined soccer's Second Division in 1905β06, and finished sixth out of 20 clubs in the club's first season. Rugby's monopoly with the locals seemed to have been broken, with Leeds Rugby League's average gate numbers falling by nearly 50% in that first league season.[9]
In 1910, Leeds came of age with the team finishing in sixth place in the league, but that was just a warm up for the Challenge Cup campaign. Leeds beat Hull Kingston Rovers, Rochdale Hornets, Keighley and then scraped through 11-10 against Warrington in the semi-final before meeting Hull in the final. Rain on the morning of the game meant conditions were against flowing rugby. The scores were level at 7-7 with fifteen minutes left, however neither team could break the deadlock and the final went to a replay two days later, again at Fartown, Huddersfield. Leeds made no mistake this time and ran out convincing 26-12 winners having led 16-0 at half time.
The club lost many players to the First World War and the usual league programme was interrupted during 1914-1918. During this period, Leeds played a number of "guest players" in the Emergency League competition. The Headingley club reached the Championship final for the first time in 1915, but lost 35β2 to Huddersfield, then a record score. The Emergency League was then suspended.
Leeds reverted to rugby union during World War I to play a one-off challenge game against the Royal Navy Depot from Plymouth in 1917. This was a precursor to the following Christmas when two Challenge games were organised between the two sides but this time with one of each code. The Navy won the union game 9-3 on Christmas Eve but proved equally adapt at league recording a 24-3 win on 28 December.
In 1921, Harold Buck became the gameβs first Β£1,000 transfer when he moved from Hunslet to Leeds .[10][11]
On Saturday 27 October 1934, Leeds and Wakefield Trinity met in the final of the Yorkshire Cup at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury. The match was played in front of a crowd of 22,598 and ended in a 5β5 draw.[12] Four days later the two clubs drew again, with Leeds eventually lifting the trophy after a second replay, the only occasion it took three attempts to settle a Yorkshire Cup Final. A total of 52,402 spectators watched the three games.
Leeds forward Joe Thompson was the top point scorer for both the 1929β30 and 1927β28 seasons.
In 1937, Leeds paid the stand-off Vic Hey a then-record Β£1,400 signing-on fee to lure him from Australia. Vic was regarded as a major loss to the Australian game and this contributed to the RFL imposing a ban on international transfers, which lasted until 1940.[13]
In 1938, Leeds played Swinton in the Rugby Football League Championship semi-final. Leeds won the match 5 points to 2 to set up a history making all-Leeds clash with neighbours Hunslet in the final. The match was played at the Elland Road football ground, to accommodate a huge demand from the cityβs rugby league supporters. Over 54,000 people watched the game, a then record for a match in England, Hunslet triumphed 8β2 to take the title.[14]
Leeds won the Challenge Cup in 1941 and 1942.[15]
Following the Second World War, Leeds club struggled to make a serious impact in rugby league despite having a financial advantage over the majority of other teams.
It was not until the late 1950s, when in 1957 the club secured its first post-war Challenge Cup victory, that the young side being built began to show signs of what was to come. Joe Warham came to Leeds as coach in 1958 and a Yorkshire Cup triumph followed, but the side still lacked enough quality to compete at the top of the Lancashire section of the competition in which it was then playing.
However "the Loiners" (their historical nickname) were to establish themselves as a dominant force by the end of the coming decade. In 1960 Dai Prosser was appointed to assist Joe Warham with the coaching duties and the club signed a new back three of Jack Fairbank, Bryan Shaw and Dennis Goodwin to strengthen the forward pack.[16] The recruitment paid off: the club was crowned Champions for the first time in 1961 with Lewis Jones leading them to a 25β10 victory over Warrington in the Championship Final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford.[17]
In the late 1960s, under the guidance of Roy Francis, Leeds repeatedly finished top of the league. The club contested perhaps the most memorable of all Wembley occasions, the "watersplash final" of 1968, which was played despite a downpour that saturated the pitch. It produced the most dramatic of finishes, when Lance Todd trophy winner Don Fox had the easiest of conversions to win it for Wakefield Trinity, but missed it to leave Leeds 11β10 winners.
Francis then quit the club to take up a coaching position in Australia, and Joe Warham again took charge as coach, on an interim basis, midway through the 1969 campaign.[18][19] The Championship trophy duly returned to Headingley for the second time after a tough final against Castleford at Odsal Stadium.[20]
In 1970 Leeds returned to the Championship final, and Odsal, but lost to St Helens despite having taken an early lead. Tables were turned in December when the same teams met in the final of the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy, Leeds emerging victorious this time.[21]
Coached by Derek "Rocky" Turner, Leeds returned to Wembley in 1971 and 1972 but lost out both times β in 1971 losing 24β7 to rank outsiders Leigh and suffering the indignity of captain Syd Hynes being the first man to 'take an early bath' at Wembley.[22][23] A third championship, in 1972, provided consolation.
Eric Ashton (former Wigan and Great Britain centre) coached Leeds for the 1973β74 season before leaving to coach St Helens.[24][25]
Leeds continued to collect silverware: the Regal Trophy in 1973 and the Premiership (the then-current form of the championship playoff) in 1975.[26] The team held the Yorkshire Cup seven times between 1969 and 1980.
In the 1976β77 season, the Salford versus Leeds match was abandoned after 38 minutes when Chris Sanderson of Leeds suffered a fatal injury. Leeds led 5β2, but the game was declared null and void and not replayed. The club recovered to win the Challenge Cup at the end of that season. This success was repeated in 1978, in a classic final against St Helens at Wembley Stadium with Leeds completing what was then a record comeback. Former captain Syd Hynes was coach on both occasions.
This was followed up with another Premiership win, in 1979.[27]
However these victories were the 'last hurrah' of the great '60s and '70s sides and a barren spell followed in the '80s. Leeds' only triumphs were the 1984 John Player Trophy (beating Widnes) and the 1988 Yorkshire Cup (beating Castleford).[28] Leeds were beaten finalists in the John Player Trophy four times in the 1980s and '90s.
Leeds eventually returned to Wembley for a Challenge Cup final appearance in 1994 against Wigan.[29] The game was memorable for a length of the field try by Martin Offiah, considered by many to be one the greatest tries ever scored, which clinched the game for Wigan. Leeds returned to Wembley a year later, again to face Wigan again, but were beaten more easily.[30]
In 1996 Gary Hetherington sold his controlling interest in Sheffield Eagles and joined Paul Caddick to take over the ailing Leeds C F & A Co Ltd, owners and operators of Headingley Stadium and Leeds Rugby League Club.
1996 marked the beginning of summer rugby as the first tier of British rugby league clubs played the inaugural Super League season and changed from a winter to a summer season.[31]
In 1997, the club renamed itself Leeds Rhinos. Dean Bell took over as head coach following his retirement as a player at Auckland Warriors.[32] Leeds experienced great financial difficulty and even flirted with relegation. Following the purchase of the club by Caddick and Hetherington the turnaround was quick, however, and in 1998 Leeds once again reached a major final, facing Wigan in the inaugural Grand Final, at Old Trafford, Manchester. Leeds lost 10β4 in a tense and very evenly matched game.[33]
Iestyn Harris joined Leeds for a record breaking Β£350,000 transfer in 1997.[34] He was appointed captain in his first full season at the age of only 21. In 1999 Leeds finally landed the first silverware in a decade, and the first Challenge Cup for over 20 years, with a convincing 52β16 win over London at Wembley in front of a crowd of 73,242.[35][36] In 2000, after a nightmare opening to the season, Leeds put themselves in a position to defend this trophy when they met Yorkshire rivals Bradford at Murrayfield, Edinburgh. It was not to be and after a poor start from Leeds, Bradford edged them out by six points.[37]
Once again a period of transition loomed for Leeds, with many youngsters emerging and taking the place of experienced first team members. Daryl Powell became coach of Leeds after he retired from playing in 2001.[38]
In 2003 Leeds returned to the Challenge Cup final, again to face Bradford, this time at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Leeds once again lost out in a very tense game, losing 22β20 in front of 71,212 fans. The game was memorable for the decision by the Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield to spurn the opportunity of a 2-point penalty kick to level up the game with just minutes left.[39]
In 2003 Leeds appointed Tony Smith as Head Coach for the 2004 season, despite being top of the table at the time.[40]
In 2004 Leeds finally shed the 'bridesmaid' tag in Super League. The team picked up its first championship title in 32 years with a narrow win over Bradford 16β8 in the Grand Final at Old Trafford in front of a sell-out crowd.[41] Teh team followed this by winning the World Club Challenge beating Australian side Canterbury Bulldogs 39β32 in front of 37,028 spectators at Elland Road, Leeds .
This success was not to be repeated in 2005: after a wonderful first half to the season the team's form slumped and Leeds lost a third Challenge Cup final in six years, shaded by a briefly resurgent Hull 24β25. Leeds then lost the Grand Final in the same season, thwarted by Bradford, 15β6. It was the seventh final Leeds had lost in 10 years.
2006 was hugely disappointing. Leeds finished third in the Super League XI table, but lost in their first play-off game against Warrington. There was also a disappointing defeat to Huddersfield in the semi finals of the Challenge Cup.[42]
In 2007 Leeds finished second after the 27 regular rounds, and lost 10β8 at St Helens in the grand final eliminator in what many of the players described as the most brutal and tough game of their careers. Leeds then produced a brilliant performance at home to beat a resurgent Wigan side 36β6, thus reaching the grand final. Leeds triumphed in the final in spectacular circumstances, beating St Helens 33β6 in front of over 71,000 spectators. Leeds' points included 12 from Kevin Sinfield (meaning he had scored in every match this season). Rob Burrow was named man-of-the-match winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy.[43]
Tony Smith, who was leaving to coach Great Britain, departed on a euphoric note as arguably the greatest coach in the club's history (with two Grand Finals and a world challenge title)
Smith was replaced by former New Zealand international team coach Brian McClennan.[44]
In the warm-up to the 2008 season Leeds played a match in the USA (against South Sydney Rabbitohs) for the first time. The game marked the first international Rugby League match held in the USA. The match was played on 26 January 2008 at Hodges Stadium β University of North Florida with Leeds overcoming South Sydney 26β24. Jacksonville's very own American National Rugby League team the Jacksonville Axemen hosted the teams as part of the Australia Day festivities.[45]
Soon afterwards Leeds beat Melbourne Storm 11β4 at Elland Road in the 2008 World Club Challenge.[46] A Scott Donald try combined with a drop goal by Kevin Sinfield secured the monumentous win in front of a record[47] crowd of 33,204.[48]
On 4 October 2008[49] Leeds retained the Super League crown by defeating St. Helens 24β16 in a thrilling contest. Lee Smith and Ryan Hall helped Leeds to a 12β6 lead at half time. Danny McGuire scored twice after the break and Kevin Sinfield successfully converting all four tries.[50] The team became the first in Leeds RLFC history to win consecutive titles and only the second in Super League history.[51][52]
Leeds beat St Helens 18-10 at Old Trafford in the Engage Super League grand final in 2009 and became the first club ever to win the trophy three times in a row.[53] Leeds is now officially the most dominant team in the "Super League" era and its success has been built on teaming experienced international players from England, Australia and New Zealand with young English talent. This formula has not only worked but is a lesson to other clubs in the importance of blooding young English players.
2011 was a trying year and much of the team and management came in for a lot of criticism following poor early season performances. Following a nail-biting extra-time golden point win over local rivals, Castleford Tigers in the Challenge Cup, Leeds began to hit form. The so called catalyst for the season though came with a 38-18 loss to Catalan Dragons in July 2011. This defeat left Leeds in 8th place in the league ladder, 25/1 to regain the league title, and in real danger of missing the end of season play-offs. However the Rhinos were to lose only one more league game in the entire season. The team took to the field in the Carnegie Challenge Cup final against Wigan Warriors with media and fans alike writing them off, some giving Wigan as much as a 40 point winning margin. Leeds were poor for the first 20 minutes and were staring down a beating of which so many predicted. From that point on Leeds kicked on and only narrowly missed out on lifting the cup following 60 minutes of domination of the "untouchable" Warriors. The new lease of life continued in the league and into the play-offs where they made short shrift of Hull FC 42-10 on 18th September. Following this win Leeds travelled to take on the Huddersfield Giants in the Elimination Semi-Final. The Giants had finished above Leeds in the league ladder but had been on the end of a 47-0 defeat in the Qualifying Playoff to League Leaders and in form Warrington Wolves. The Rhinos despatched of the Giants in great style with Zak Hardaker crossing three times in the 28-34 victory. With this Leeds put their name in the hat for the Qualifying Semi-finals and were picked by Warrington as their opposition. Again Leeds were written off by everyone in the game as were Wigan's opposition, St Helens, in the other Qualifying Semi Final. This time, unlike Wembley, Leeds were set fair to prove everyone wrong and did so with what was described as the Rhino's "Finest hour" when running out 24-26 victors. Captain "Sir" Kevin Sinfield with a crucial 76th minute penalty goal to win the game, as he did from a similar angle against Castleford in the Challenge Cup Semi-final months previously. In the other Semi-final Saint Helens also sprung a shock beating Wigan, reaching a sixth Grand Final in six years, and also the fourth time in five years Saints would face the Rhinos in the final. The 2011 Grand Final was contested in the rain at Old Trafford, Manchester, on 8 October 2011. Leeds fell behind to an early penalty before "Sir Kev" drew the contest level. On the 33rd minute Leeds took the lead through a magical Rob Burrow try, described by many as "The greatest Grand Final try". The Rhinos led 8-2 at the break. Straight from the restart Leeds were under great pressure and despite immense defence they eventually conceded, 8-8. The saints then took more advantage from a scrum-set move and went into a 14-6 lead. From the restart "Sir Kev"'s knighthood was looking in doubt as he kicked the ball out on the full, Jamie Foster converting the resulant penalty for a 16-8 lead with 20 minutes to play. It looked to all that Saints would eventually break their loosing streak at Old Trafford, which stretches back to 2007. The Rhinos were not in the mood to lie down and fired back with a Brent Webb try. 16-14. Leeds then received a penalty for interference and "Sir Kev" proved the worth of his moniker by tieing the game at 16-16. From there the Rhinos never looked back, tries from Ryan Hall, Carl Ablett and a last minute intercept try from Zak Hardaker confirmed Leeds' win. It was the first time any team had contested the Grand Final from outside the top 3. It was the first time anyone had won from outside the top 3. It was the 5th Grand Final success for Leeds, following '04,'07,'08 and '09. It was a win that meant Leeds Rhinos had been transformed and a win that meant, with 5 Super League titles, that Leeds are the most successful team in Super League history.[54]
Leeds play at Headingley. The ground now has a capacity of 22,250 including some seating and some standing areas.[55] The new Carnegie stand (pictured) was opened in 2006. The club are currently looking at refurbishing the South Stand and are hoping to rebuild the North Stand, however being as it is double sided they require the support of Yorkshire Cricket first as any redevelopment would have to take place on both sides. Headingley is the largest stadium in the Super League not to be shared with a football club. The club's plans to redevelop the North Stand look set to be delayed since Yorkshire Cricket have no intention on redeveloping this until their replacement of the 'Winter shed' is complete. This has led to the club exploring the option of redeveloping the Western Terraces instead, however this would require the demolition of six houses and the re-routing of a public right of way. The capacity of the South Stand has been reduced temporarily while structural repairs are carried out.[56] Many fans wish to see the South Stand redeveloped because of its increasingly dilapidated condition and because of the poor state of facilities offered in contrast
Ronnie the Rhino is the Leeds mascot.[57] He attempts to get the crowd going pre-match, and at half-time he normally gets children involved by playing some sort of game.
Ronnie the Rhino visits schools as part of the Leeds RLFC Community project, with the intention of promoting sports and healthy living.[58] Ronnie is sponsored by Cravendale milk, a brand manufactured nearby in Stourton.[59] Prior to sponsorship with Cravendale, Ronnie was sponsored by Pepsi, as at the time the club was sponsored by Tetley's and under UK law it would be illegal for an alcohol brand to sponsor a figure aimed primarily at children.
The club's merchandising campaign is supported by two club shops, one at the stadium and another in the Merrion Centre. Ronnie the Rhino forms part of the club merchandising campaign, particularly in the club's marketing to its younger support. The club each season sells a different home and away jersey, as well as other branded clothes such as training wear and polo shirts. The club has in the past sold replicas of past jerseys. The club's marketing division has become a more intrinsic part of its income since it adopted the 'Rhinos' nickname and mascot. This trend is replicated across most Super League clubs since the change to Super League, with only Hull and Halifax reverting to their traditional names after a spell as the 'Hull Sharks' and 'Halifax Blue Sox' respectivelty.
Leeds' main local rivals are Bradford. Leeds also have a cross-city rivalry with Hunslet (however Leeds are one league above Hunslet making competitive unlikely). There is also a genuine traditional derby with Wakefield Trinity, and to some extent Huddersfield, Hull, Castleford and Featherstone Rovers, St Helens and Wigan.[60][61][62][63]
*Announced on 10 November 2011
2012 Leeds Rhinos season | |||||||||
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First team squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach Assistant coach
Updated: 30/10/2011 |
Gains
Player | Club | Until end of |
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Richard Moore | Crusaders RL | 2014 |
Luke Briscoe | Hull FC | 2015 |
Darrell Griffin | Huddersfield Giants | 2014 |
Losses
Player | Club | Until end of |
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Keith Senior | Released | - |
Ben Cross | Wigan Warriors (2011), Widnes Vikings (2012) | 2013 |
Luke Burgess | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2013 |
Ali Lauitiiti | Wakefield Wildcats | 2014 |
Danny Buderus | Newcastle Knights | 2012 |
Kyle Amor | Wakefield Wildcats | Loan |
George Elliott | York City Knights | - |
Michael Coady | Released | - |
Callum Casey | Halifax R.L.F.C | - |
The Yorkshire Evening Post named Arthur Clues, Albert "Bert" Cook, Ellery Hanley, Eric Harris, Vic Hey, John Holmes, Lewis Jones, Danny McGuire, Garry Schofield and Frederick "Fred" Webster, as the greatest ever Leeds RL players.[64]
Alan smith (1970's)
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These players have either; won Challenge Cup, Rugby Football League Championship/Super League Grand Final, Yorkshire Cup, Yorkshire League, played during Super League, or were international representatives before, or after, their time at Leeds .
Nationality | Staff Name | Position |
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Brian McDermott | Head Coach | |
Barrie McDermott | Head of Youth Development | |
Billy Watts | Time-Keeper | |
Jason Davidson | Head Conditioner | |
Meirion Jones | Head Physiotherapist | |
Rob Wilson | Masseur |
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