Leeds Rhinos hand long-term deal to ‘promising’ forward

Leeds Rhinos have announced that one of their rising stars has committed their future to the club with a new long-term deal.

Academy talent Daniel Stelfox is just 17 but he’s signed a contract that ties him to the club until the end of the 2027 season, with that campaign set to be the first that he spends full-time with the club.

The forward will play a further year as part of the Under-18s Academy in 2026 before ascending to the full-time squad for the 2027 campaign, having already made a significant impact during the two years he has been with the club.

Scouted from local amateur side Oulton Raiders, Stelfox joined the club’s scholarship in 2023 and has played nine times over that period before moving into the academy this year, in 2025.

He’s gone on to make four appearances in the academy and a further two for the reserves, earning him recognition to be called up for the Yorkshire Academy where he took part in the first Academy Origin match.

Leeds Rhinos tie down rising academy star

Stelfox featured off the bench in a Leeds Rhinos-dominated Yorkshire side which beat Lancashire 42-10 and he’ll be hoping to play in the second clash when the counties meet in August.

The teenager will complete his A-Levels next year before moving to university in Leeds, something he will be able to complete with the support of the Rhinos and that’s one of the things he spoke about following the news of his new deal.

“To have my education sorted too, that was important,” Stelfox admitted.

“That’s what Leeds focus on, making you a better person, not just a better player. I wanted that secured as soon as possible. You don’t get many clubs that are going to support you through university as well as rugby so them helping me through what I want to do in future with education is important because rugby is not forever.”

Labelling it a “pretty simple decision”, the teen also noted the pathway of players signing deals with the first-team after being involved with the scholars and academy.

He explained: “What we’ve produced as 17-year-olds in the Academy, has been good for the past few years and I hope to continue doing that in the future. That’s what sets us apart from the different teams – we are a unit and that’s why people are getting contracts here.”

Chev Walker, the club’s transition coach and former interim head coach, said: “He’s very athletic and the way that he’s stood up and played in the middle this year, and really made that position his own, has impressed me. Having Dan commit stands us in good stead that we’ve got another promising front rower and middle that can step up when the time comes.”

Stelfox becomes the tenth player in the academy to sign a new deal in the last year, after 15 agreed to multi-year deals in June 2024.

✍️We’re pleased to announce that rising Academy talent Dan Stelfox has agreed a new contract and committed his future to the club!

— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) June 17, 2025