Leeds Rhinos are a professional rugby league club based in Headingley in the north of Leeds, Yorkshire. They are owned by the same company that also run Leeds Tykes rugby union team.
| Rhino | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Football Club |
| Colours | Blue and amber |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Website | www.leedsrugby.com |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) | |
| Competition | Super League (Europe) |
Leeds introduced the 'Rhinos' nickname and logo in 1997. They are still also known by their original nickname 'Loiners'. A Loiner is a word for someone who comes from the city of Leeds.
Leeds Rhinos are widely recognised as the best supported rugby club of either code in the United Kingdom. In 2005, the Rhinos averaged 17,011 spectators per game. The capacity of their home stadium, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, is currently restricted due to building work during 2006.
History
The club was formed in 1895 as Leeds St Johns but the 'St John' was dropped to become simply Leeds shortly after moving to Headingley.
In 1921, Harold Buck became the game’s first £1,000 transfer when he moved from Hunslet to Leeds.
During the 60s and 70s the Loiners (as they were then nicknamed) established themselves as a dominant force recording 3 Challenge Cups and 3 title wins during this period. However, this success was not to last forever and a barren spell loomed. Leeds eventually hauled themselves back to the top of the game with a Challenge Cup final appearance in 1994 against Wigan. They were beaten easily. 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. However, this was not a one off appearance and Leeds did return again a year later. They faced rivals Wigan for the second consecutive year and were beaten easily again, the game memorable because of a try from Jason Robinson.
1996 marked the beginning of summer rugby and major transition for the renamed Leeds Rhinos. Leeds flirted with relegation but eventually managed to haul themselves out. The turnaround was quick and the Rhinos once again found their way to the top, facing Wigan in the innaugral Grand final in 1998 at Old Trafford. The Rhinos were edged out 10-4 in a tense and very evenly matched game.
Iestyn Harris joined Leeds for a record breaking £350,000 transfer in 1997. He was appointed captain in his first full season at the age of twenty one. Leeds were not to be denied, and in the next season recorded their first Challenge Cup victory for over 20 years and first silverware in a decade, with a convincing 52-16 win over London at Wembley. In the next season, after a nightmare opening, Leeds put themselves in a position to defend this trophy when they met local rivals Bradford at Murrayfield. It was not to be and after a poor start from the Rhinos the Bulls edged them out by 6 points.
Daryl Powell became coach of the Leeds Rhinos after he retired from playing in 2001. Once again a period of transition loomed for Leeds, with many youngsters emerging and taking the place of experienced first team members. Under coach Darryl Powell the Rhinos gradually rebuilt and after a 3 year absence once again made the Challenge Cup final in 2003 to face Bradford. Leeds were once again edged out in a very tense game 22-20 in front of 71,212 fans at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The game was memorable for Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield who spurned the opportunity of 2 points to level up the game with just minutes left.
Powell became Director of Rugby in 2003 and the Rhinos appointed Tony Smith as head coach.
In 2004 the Rhinos finally shed the 'bridesmaid' tag and eventually picked up their first title in 32 years with a win over Bradford Bulls 16-8 in the Grand Final at Old Trafford. They then followed this by winning the World Club Challenge beating Australian side Canterbury Bulldogs 39-32 in front of 37,028 spectators at Elland Road.
This success was to be short lived, as in 2005 the Rhinos lost their third consecutive Challenge Cup final. This time they were narrowly edged out by resurgent Yorkshire rivals Hull 24-25. The Rhinos then lost the Grand Final the same season, once again thwarted by arch rivals Bradford Bulls 15-6. It was the 7th final the Rhinos had lost in 10 years, they had once again been found wanting when it mattered most.
In preparation for the 2006 season coach Tony Smith signed Great Britain forward Jamie Peacock, Australian flyer Scott Donald and powerful front-rower Mark O'Neill. They replaced the outgoing Papua New Guinea international Marcus Bai, former Australian cap Chris McKenna and young winger Mark Calderwood
As of the end of May 2006 the Rhinos are lying in second position in Super League XI and are scheduled to play Huddersfield in the semi finals of the Powergen Challenge Cup. Also Leeds have captured the signature of New Zealand Warriors' centre Clinton Toopi and full back Brent Webb and also made the permanent signing of Hull prop forward Jamie Thackray while Chev Walker and Ritchie Mathers leaving to join Bath and the Gold Coast Titans respectively.
Honours
- World Club Challenge: 2005
- Championship (including Super League): 1960-61, 1968-69, 1971-72, 2004 (4 times)
- Challenge Cup : 1909-10, 1922-23, 1931-32, 1935-36, 1940-41, 1941-42, 1956-57, 1967-68, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1999 (11 times)
- Premiership: 1974-75, 1978-79 (2 times)
- Yorkshire Cup: 1921-22, 1928-29, 1930-31, 1932-33, 1934-35, 1935-36, 1937-38, 1958-59, 1968-69, 1970-71, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1976,77, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1988-89 (17 times)
- Yorkshire League: 1901-02, 1927-28, 1930-31, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1936-37, 1950-51, 1954-55, 1956-57, 1960-61, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70 (14 times)
- Regal Trophy: 1972-73, 1983-84 (2 times)
Current Playing Squad
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Records
Player records
- Most tries in a match: 8 by Fred Webster vs Coventry 12th April 1913
- Most goals in a match: 17 by Iestyn Harris vs Swinton Lions 11th February 2001
- Most points in a match: 42 by Iestyn Harris vs Huddersfield Giants 16th July 1999
- Most tries in a season: 63 by Eric Harris, 1935-36
- Most goals in a season: 168 by Iestyn Harris, 1999
- Most points in a season: 431 by Lewis Jones, 1956-57
- Most career tries: 391 by Eric Harris, 1930-39
- Most career goals: 1244 by Lewis Jones, 1952-64
- Most career points: 2920 by Lewis Jones, 1952-64
Team records
- Biggest victory: 106-10 vs Swinton Lions 11th February 2001
- Worst Defeat: 74-6 at Wigan, 10th May 1992
- Highest attendance: 40,175 vs Bradford Northern, 21st May 1947