Former Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR man Mitch Garbutt has taken on a player/coach role with New South Wales outfit Scone Thoroughbreds.
The prop, who spent most of his career playing in the Northern Hemisphere, has returned down under after bringing his professional career to an end. However, he is still playing and after a stint in Newcastle Rugby League with Kurri Kurri Bulldogs last season, he will be linking up the Thoroughbreds for the 2026 season.
It’s a position that will not only see Garbutt coach Scone’s first grade side, but also captain them, with the 36-year-old continuing to strap up on a weekend.
Scone compete in the Country Rugby league Group 21 competition, with the senior side winning the five of the last six premierships and going undefeated through the 2024 season. As such, Garbutt will be keen to see them continue their dominance of the competition, while also getting his coaching career down under off the ground.
Garbutt spent time with Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos before making the move over to England to join Leeds Rhinos in 2015.
The forward made 72 appearances in blue and amber, scoring nine tries and winning two Super League Grand Finals. The first of those successes came just a few months after he joined the club, beating Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.
And, his second came in 2017 with Leeds Rhinos beating Castleford Tigers at the Theatre of Dreams.
Garbutt moved on to join Hull KR for the 2019 season, with the Australian helping to lay the groundwork for the what the treble-winning side have gone on to achieve this season.
He made 28 appearances in two seasons for the Robins before having two years with Toulouse Olympique.
Garbutt went on to have a spell with Super XIII side Saint-Gaudens Bears, where he gathered some coaching experience, too.
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