A-Z of Leeds Rhinos: ‘U’ is for Union

The club was founded in 1870 as St John’s, wearing amber and blue and playing at Cardigan Fields, but became the football section of Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic Company Ltd after moving to the new Headingley in 1890.

The club’s first game as Leeds was against Otley, at Cardigan Fields because Headingley was not ready.

Their debut at Headingley was a win over Manningham, by a dropped goal and try to nil, in September, 1890 when Leeds played in terracotta and green.

Leeds lost to Hunslet 21-0 in the 1891-92 Yorkshire Cup final.

The biggest attendance for a union fixture at Headingley was 27,654 against Halifax in April, 1892.

Four Yorkshire Cup finals were played at Headingley before the breakaway and it staged an international between England and Scotland in 1893.

As well as two games under rugby union rules against Royal Naval Depot during the first world war, a 15-a-side game was played there in January, 1943, when a Northern Command RL side (mainly from the ranks) beat their union counterparts (including seven commissioned officers) 18-11.

The New Zealand Army defeated Northern Services 14-7 two years later, but rugby union did not return to Headingley until Leeds Tykes moved there in the 1990s.

Leeds signed 35 rugby union internationals before the 15-a-side game went openly professional, the last being Tongan Sateki Tuipulotu in 1996.

Jim Fallon was a high profile recruit from Bath in 1992, two years after All Blacks super star John Gallagher switched codes.

Players who left Rhinos to play union include Chev Walker (Bath), Iestyn Harris (Cardiff) and Lee Smith (Wasps).

‘U’ is also for Underdogs

Leeds twice won the Grand final after finishing fifth in Super League. In 2008 they were written off after being hammered 38-10 at St Helens in the play-offs, but triumphed 24-16 against the same opposition at Old Trafford two weeks later.

‘U’ is also for...Utility

Liam Sutcliffe is the most versatile member of Rhinos’ squad, having played full-back, centre, in the halves and second-row.

Specialist half-back Richie Myler has played at hooker and full-back this season.

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