Leeds Rhinos were the first club back in pre-season alongside Hull FC and they have been very busy since and they prepare for what should be a big year.

The Rhinos had big names like Cameron Smith and James Bentley in the squad from week one and now new signing Brodie Croft has arrived.

They are still short some of their big names like Harry Newman and Rhyse Martin due to international duty.

But they have drafted in a rugby union trialist to add to the squad in the shape of former Rugby Union Premiership forward Lewis Boyce who previously played for Harlequins and Bath.

This has been confirmed by Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington who explained the situation.

“He doesn’t have a rugby union club at the moment, he is out of contract and so free to do whatever he wants. His agent contacted Rohan [Smith, Leeds’ coach] who invited him to come and train on a week to week basis,” he said to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The Rhinos could agree a permanent move for Boyce but also it could wind up just being a way for him to keep fit as he finds a rugby union move. Time will tell.

So, it is a busy time at Kirkstall as Leeds begin pre-season but their squad are about to do something extra special.

In 2017 Leeds Rhinos Foundation, St George’s Crypt and St Gemma’s Hospice came together to launch the ‘Leeds Big Sleep’ to raise money and awareness for the three Leeds based charities.

Since that first fundraising event, thousands of pounds have been raised to support some of the most vulnerable people in the local community, but that isn’t where the benefits of the Big Sleep partnership ends and now, more opportunities are opening through the combined work between the organisations.

One collaboration that has been a big success has been Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s support of St George’s Crypt’s Growing Rooms project, which has seen one of the graduates from the course being offered a job opportunity with the Leeds Rhinos ground staff at AMT Headingley Stadium.