Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Supporting Leeds Rhinos on and off the pitch
This year’s Challenge Cup final held extra significance for Leeds Beckett graduates. Following the season restart, our graduates have worked tirelessly to lead the club on its journey from lockdown to the Challenge Cup victory.
Both staff and players at the club, LBU graduates work both on and off the pitch at Leeds Rhinos, including Director of Rugby Kevin Sinfield MBE and winger Tom Briscoe (pictured above), who scored his seventh Challenge Cup final try in their latest triumph to become the all-time Challenge Cup final try scorer.
Kevin Sinfield MBE, Leeds Rhinos’ most successful captain and one of the sports’ biggest icons, graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2008, achieving a BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science before returning and graduating with an MA Sport Business degree in 2015 – all alongside his professional rugby career. Kevin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport Science by Leeds Beckett University in 2019 in recognition of his achievements in rugby league.
Tom graduated earlier this year with first-class honours in Sport and Exercise Science, which he completed whilst also playing top level professional rugby league with Leeds Rhinos. Other Leeds Rhinos stars who graduated from Leeds Beckett during their playing careers include club legends Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jimmy Keinhorst and Jamie Peacock.
Assistant coach James Webster also graduated from the university alongside fellow graduate, Head of Physical Performance Chris Black, who completed his PhD in Sports and Exercise from Leeds Beckett in 2017, and played a vital role in preparing the club’s squad of players as they returned to training after the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Leeds Rhinos Women’s team also has a strong showing from LBU with former England Rugby League international Lois Forsell (BA (Hons) Sport Development, 2012) leading the team alongside fellow graduates and current first team players Danika Priim (BA (Hons) Secondary PE, 2013), and Sophie Robinson (BA (Hons) Business Management, 2019).
In addition to her position as Leeds Rhinos Women’s head coach, Lois also works as the Women and Girls Rugby League Development Officer at the Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Her role is to help build the profile of female rugby league in Leeds, by delivering PE Lessons and after school clubs in high schools across the city, encouraging pupils to play for their school team and/or local community club. During her playing career, Lois won league and cup trophies with Bradford Bulls and represented England in the 2013 and 2017 World Cups, alongside Danika Priim.
Many of our graduates play key roles off the pitch as well, within the club’s marketing and ticketing departments. Phil Daly is Head of Media and PR and is responsible for all media output from the Rhinos including official websites, publications, media liaison and social media output. Phil completed his MA Sport Business at Leeds Beckett in 2016. Sian Jones, BA (Hons), Event Management, 2006 is Head of Customer Experience, alongside Marketing Executive James Eaton who studied BA (Hons) Sport Business Management and MA Sports Business at LBU and current student Charlie Connor who works as Customer Experience and Marketing Assistant at the club.