Leeds Rhinos and Featherstone Rovers are set to continue their longstanding partnership in 2022, which will see members of the Rhinos first team squad playing on dual-registration with Rovers.
In addition to the Rhinos top 20 squad members, this arrangement will also include last season’s prolific try scorer, Jack Broadbent, highly rated second row forward, Sam Walters and wing or centre, Levi Edwards.
Rhinos Head Coach, Richard Agar said: “It was only a few years ago when Ash Handley and Harry Newman were playing for Featherstone and the experience they gained certainly helped their development.
“Clearly, Featherstone Rovers will be vying for promotion this year so we are extremely pleased for our players to develop in such a strong, professional environment.”
Rovers boss, Brian McDermott stated: “I was around at the outset of the partnership between both clubs so I understand how both parties can benefit strongly from this partnership.
“The Championship will be a long, hard season so we know that this relationship will give us the strength in depth we will need to enable us to meet those challenges.”
The partnership will also see Rovers players playing alongside Rhinos in a new reserve grade team and both clubs will compete against each other in a pre-season encounter at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday 16th January 2022 at 3pm.
Gary Hetherington, the Rhinos CEO said: “We have enjoyed a longstanding and very fruitful partnership with Featherstone and I am delighted this is set to continue and develop for our mutual benefit”.
Martin Vickers Rovers CEO added: “We are very fortunate to have such a strong relationship with an elite club like Leeds Rhinos and I believe we can benefit on a number of fronts through this relationship both on and off the field.
“This relationship will add even greater depth and quality to our playing squad as we piece together an extremely strong team for 2022.”
