Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar to miss Hull FC friendly due to Covid-19

Leeds Rhinos battle Hull FC in Tom Briscoe’s testimonial today but his coach Richard Agar will not be in attendance.

Agar, who named a teenage Briscoe in his Wembley line up in the 2008 Challenge Cup Final for Hull FC against St Helens, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Rhinos boss was Briscoe’s coach at Hull for three seasons and has worked with Briscoe at Leeds since 2019 overseeing Leeds’ Challenge Cup win in 2020 in which Briscoe scored. However he won’t be here for Briscoe’s special day having returned a positive lateral flow on Wednesday.

Assistant coaches Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Sean Long Will instead take charge of the team as they did in Leeds’ play-off battle with Catalans in 2020 when Agar last tested positive for the virus.

A blow for Leeds in an important game in their development going into a big 2022, Agar will likely be watching from home as Briscoe looks to secure the centre spot going into the season proper with the returning Liam Sutcliffe breathing down his neck.