Leeds Rhinos A-Z - ‘Y’ is for...Yorkshire’s number one.

In terms of honours, Leeds are the county’s most successful club.
Leeds captain Barry Seabourne is presented with the Yorkshire League trophy for 1968-69. Pixture by YPN.Leeds captain Barry Seabourne is presented with the Yorkshire League trophy for 1968-69. Pixture by YPN.
Leeds captain Barry Seabourne is presented with the Yorkshire League trophy for 1968-69. Pixture by YPN.

Though it took them until 1921-22 to win the Yorkshire Cup for the first time, they lifted that trophy, which was played for from 1905-06 to 1992-93, on a record 17 occasions - five more than nearest challengers Huddersfield.

They were runners-up in four finals.

Leeds won the Yorkshire Senior competition, which ran from 1895-96 to 1901-02, once, in its final year.

Big things are expected of Leeds Rhinos youngster Sam Walters, pictured in pre-season action against Featherstone Rovers. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.Big things are expected of Leeds Rhinos youngster Sam Walters, pictured in pre-season action against Featherstone Rovers. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
Big things are expected of Leeds Rhinos youngster Sam Walters, pictured in pre-season action against Featherstone Rovers. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
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The Yorkshire League championship was awarded - with occasional breaks, including during the two world wars - from 1907-08 until 1969-70.

The Loiners won that 14 times, including each of its last four seasons.

Their nearest rivals were Huddersfield, with 11 wins.

Headingley staged the Yorkshire Cup final a record 47 times, seven more than all the other venues combined.

Wearing Leeds' Youngsters-sponsored kit, Garry Schofield scores against Castleford at Headingley. Picture by Steve Riding.Wearing Leeds' Youngsters-sponsored kit, Garry Schofield scores against Castleford at Headingley. Picture by Steve Riding.
Wearing Leeds' Youngsters-sponsored kit, Garry Schofield scores against Castleford at Headingley. Picture by Steve Riding.

The host ground was decided before the start of the season and Leeds had home advantage in four finals, winning them all.

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More recently, Leeds have not been Super League’s highest-placed Yorkshire side since their treble-winning season in 2015.

In total, they have led the Yorkshire table nine times since summer rugby began in 1996, but Hull KR are the only current top-flight club never to have finished above Rhinos in Super League.

‘Y’ is also for...Young guns. Thirteen of Rhinos’ 36 strong full-time squad are aged 21 or younger, including five teenagers. Harry Newman, who turned 20 in February, was the first player born this century to appear in Super League when he made his Leeds debut away to Wigan Warriors in 2017.

Six Leeds players - Joe and Oli Burton, Corey Hall, Rian Rowley, Iwan Stephens and Liam Tindall - are in the current England academy performance squad.

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Barry Seabourne, aged 16 years and 97 days, was the youngest player to make his Leeds debut, against Hull KR on May 24, 1963.

‘Y’ is also for...Youngers. Leeds’ first shirt sponsorship deal was with brewer McEwan-Younger. The Youngers name first appeared on the front of Leeds’ jerseys in 1983-84.

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