Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leeds Beckett students and graduates to take part in 2021 Rugby League World Cup
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student and Leeds Rhinos player Keara Bennett is one of 13 Leeds Beckett representatives involved in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup
Leeds Beckett’s cohort will represent England Women as well as Fiji, Jamaica, Scotland and Wales in the men’s competition.
Carnegie School of Sport student Keara Bennett and graduate Leah Burke have both been included in England Women’s squad. Keara won the Women’s Super League Grand Final with Leeds Rhinos, while Leah won the Betfred Challenge Cup with St Helens.
The England teams have been preparing for the World Cup with the help of experts from the Carnegie School of Sport.
Leeds Beckett University Professor and Head of Performance for England Rugby League, Ben Jones, has led performance testing with England’s teams throughout the season, utilising the £45m state-of-the-art facilities in the Carnegie School of Sport in the hope of England being crowned World Champions.
Jamaica will have the largest amount of Leeds Beckett representatives with five players selected by head coach, and fellow Leeds Beckett graduate Jermaine Coleman. The Reggae Warriors will include graduates Michael Lawrence, James Woodburn-Hall, Keenen Tomlinson, Jy-Mel Coleman and former student Ashton Golding.
Twin brothers Connor and Curtis Davies are represent Wales. Both graduates played for Leeds Beckett University’s Rugby League team, and professionally for Halifax, during their time at the university.
MA (Hons) Sports Business Management graduate, and Salford Red Devils star, Ryan Brierley will represent Scotland. Ryan has a wealth of Super League experience including a Challenge Cup final appearance and most recently helped Salford reach the Super League play-off semi-finals.
Carnegie School of Sport Lecturer and former Super League coach James Webster will be part of the coaching staff for Fiji. Webster, who has previously occupied coaching roles at Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity, Hull Kingston Rovers and Featherstone Rovers brings a wealth of experience to the squad.
The Rugby League World Cup was postponed due to the impact of the pandemic and will take place throughout October and November across 15 cities in the UK. Leeds is set to host venues, with group fixtures and finals games being played at Headingley Stadium as well as Elland Road for the men’s and women’s competitions.
The Rugby League World Cup will kick off with England men on Saturday 15 October in their opening fixture against Samoa at St James’ Park, Newcastle, kick-off at 14:30.
Leeds Beckett graduate and England winger Leah Burke
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
England
Players:
- Keara Bennett - BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science, current student
- Leah Burke - MSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Physiology, graduate
MEN'S WORLD CUP
Jamaica
Head coach:
- Jermaine Coleman - BSc (Hons) Physical Activity Exercise and Health Science - Sports and Exercise, graduate
Players:
- Ashton Golding - former student
- Keenen Tomlinson - BA (Hons) Business and Management, graduate
- James Woodburn-Hall - MSc (Hons) Strength & Conditioning, graduate
- Jy-Mel Coleman - BA (Hons) Sports Business Management, graduate
- Michael Lawrence - BA (Hons) Sports Coaching, graduate
Wales
Players:
- Connor Davies - BA (Hons) Sports Business Management, graduate
- Curtis Davies - BA (Hons) Sports Coaching, graduate
Scotland
Players:
- Ryan Brierley - MA (Hons) Sports Business Management, graduate
England
Coaching team:
- Professor Ben Jones, Carnegie School of Sport - Head of Performance
- Nick Dalton-Barron, Carnegie School of Sport - Sports Scientist
Fiji
Coaching team:
- James Webster, Carnegie School of Sport - Assistant Coach
Jamaica captain Michael Lawrence will be one of five graduates to play for the Reggae Warriors