Leeds Rhinos have revealed that seven more stars of its highly-rated Academy setup have signed their first professional contracts. The Super League club announced last month that promising talents Bailey Aldridge and Jake Higgins had signed pro deals, and they have been joined by seven more of their team-mates.
Billy Davies, Dylan Proud, Ben Littlewood, Harrison Gilmore, Kyden Frater, Blake Morgan and Neil Tchamambe are the latest to be offered contracts with the Academy. They have all played a pivotal role in an under-18s side at Leeds which has posted an unbeaten start to the new season, and they will combine their Academy duties with matches in the club's reserve team, too.
Leeds Rhinos Player Pathway Development Manager John Bastian said: “I think first and foremost, the juniors will play a significant part in the growth and progress of the club, especially our junior players progressing into first grade. These players aren’t getting signed to just get numbers in, they’re earning it.
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“By signing Harrison and Ben, it shows to other community players that you haven’t missed the bus. Those lads have come in here from the community game and have stepped up. It’s about how much they want to achieve within rugby league so it’s a credit to them but certainly the opportunities are not gone at 16-years old.
“These seven players are earning it through how they are preparing, how they’re practising and ultimately how they’re performing. They’ve earned their contracts but now they’ve got to step up again in regards to improving as athletes and making sure that when they do train and play, that they’ve got a strong work ethic and their effort is good.”
Forward Davies and outside back Proud both hail from the prestigious Siddal amateur club in Halifax. “I’m buzzing to be honest," Proud said. "I can’t quite put it into words. When I first found out it was just quality because it shows that all the hard work pays off and gets you a step closer to the first team.
“I found out when I came into training so I had two hours waiting to tell my family but they were buzzing, if not more than I was. Siddal has produced a lot of players over time, like Tom Holroyd and Levi Edwards, so it’s nice to represent them and I can’t say thank you enough for what they’ve done for me.”
Forwards Littlewood and Gilmore caught the eye of Leeds’ scouts while playing open age for Lock Lane and Stanningley respectively last year. The pair have only been with the club for five months but have now been rewarded with professional deals, while Littlewood also featured for the Yorkshire Origin side last week.
“I played rugby union first at school but then I joined Lock Lane and went on to play for Oulton as well but to be here, I’m eager to progress and learn," Littlewood said. “It feels great to sign my first professional deal. I’m happy to be here and the team have made me feel really welcome.
"Stepping up from the community game, the matches are more fast paced and it’s a lot more professional. I’ve adapted well and obviously it’s great to progress and continue doing what I’m doing.”
The final three players, despite only being in their first year at under-18s level, have impressed under head coach Chev Walker. Frater, who hails from Milford ARLFC, was inspired to take up rugby league by his dad and has starred for Leeds' Academy side
Loose-forward Morgan started playing his junior rugby for Saddleworth Rangers at the age of six and during his time at the club, he won the under-13s Lancashire play-offs. Winger Tchamambe was encouraged to start playing rugby league by coaches from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation while at school, and he has scored in all seven under-18s matches so far in 2022.
