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Rhinos star celebrates graduation success
Jimmy, who has played 8 times this season for the Super League champions, as well as playing in last year's Challenge Cup final, has graduated in BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science at a ceremony at the University's Headingley Campus.
Speaking about his studies, Jimmy said: "Studying at Leeds Met has been great for me and I definitely would not have got the chance I have had in rugby league without the close ties between the University and the Rhinos. Paul Fletcher, our coach at Leeds Met, recommended me to the Rhinos and they signed me from there and it all happened very quickly. My final year has been tough as I've balanced my studies with being a professional rugby player; however the Rhinos have been fully supportive of me and I know that the degree will provide opportunities for me at the end of my playing career."
One of four brothers who played in the same Germany rugby league national side in an international, thus obtaining a place in the Guinness Book of Records, Jimmy became the first German international to make his debut in Super League last season - for Leeds Rhinos at Wakefield - and score, touching down on his home bow against Widnes in early August.
Jimmy came late to the sport, turning out for the University's rugby league team coached by ex- Leeds professional Paul Fletcher who recommended him to the Rhinos. Leeds Met's rugby league team are a real force in the student game and have been crowned National Champions for the past eight seasons.
His links to Leeds Metropolitan go beyond his studies and sporting exploits as his father Wolfgang recently retired from the university where he was a senior lecturer in the School of Languages.
The Leeds Metropolitan University graduation celebrations took place at the University's Headingley Campus from Monday 22 to Friday 26 July, where over 5,000 students graduated over five days, alongside ten honorary degree recipients.
Comedy legend Barry Cryer and Emmerdale star Gaynor Faye were among the well-known names to be awarded honorary degrees at Leeds Metropolitan University's summer graduations. Honorary awards were also conferred upon music producer, engineer and film sound mixer, Dennis Weinreich and former Leeds Met Director of Sport and British Triathlon's Olympic Performance Manager for the London 2012 Games, Malcolm Brown MBE.