Royal visit to AMT Headingley Stadium

On Tuesday, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the home of the Leeds Rhinos to learn how the club and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation are changing lives through the power of sport.

Their Royal Highnesses met with Jamie Jones Buchanan MBE, CEO of the Leeds Rhinos and a lifelong friend of Rob Burrow CBE. During the visit, they heard about the club’s rich history, the enduring impact of Rob’s legacy on the Rhinos family and the wider rugby league community, and how the Leeds Rhinos Foundation is using the power of sport to improve health, education, inclusion and wellbeing, helping people across Leeds to fulfil their potential.

They also heard from former captain, Danny McGuire, who has returned to the club with Leeds Rhinos Foundation to lead the Rugby League Development Plan. The programme grows and strengthens Rugby League by increasing participation, improving player retention, expanding opportunities for women and girls, developing coaches, and creating inclusive environments where everyone can access, enjoy and thrive in the game. They will meet with a group of young people currently enrolled in the programme to see its impact first-hand.

Finally, as Patron of the Rugby Football League (RFL), The Princess joined The Prince in wishing players heading to the Rugby League World Cup next month good luck.

Speaking about the visit, Jones-Buchanan said: "We were delighted to welcome the Prince of Princess of Wales to our home at AMT Headingley Stadium.  We spoke about the life of legacy of the late, great Rob Burrow It was wonderful to meet him alongside our Chairman Paul Caddick MBE and Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s CEO Bob Bowman QPM at the John Holmes's statue, because we talk about players who have come from our system, he is a home grown legend and one of the most iconic players to play, making, 625 appearances, which Prince William found an astonishing stat.  The statue is also a place where Rob met Kevin on his stops in Leeds on the 7 in 7 challenges and both their Hall of Fame plaques are positioned close to the statue.

"We then went into the stadium where they spoke with Danny McGuire, talked about the cohesive nature of sport and how it brings people together, which our team was an example of.  We were able to fulfil our dream of playing for Leeds Rhinos and be part of a golden generation and we are all grateful to be able to pay that gift forward to next generation.

"Leeds Rhinos Women’s player Keara Bennett, who has been selected for the World Cup England squad was there to talk about her own journey and role with Leeds Rhinos Foundation as women and girls development officer.  There was a chance to meet Academy player Millie Sadler.  I spoke to Kate about their children and how they love sport and how they believe it’s a great way for people to learn discipline, team work and routine.

"Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s head of community and engagement, Gareth Cook, led a session with pupils from Lawns Park school who were outstanding.  Three of their pupils even got the chance to speak to the Prince and Princess.  One spoke about playing rugby and that he played both winger and hooker, which made them chuckle.  They were all really good sort of advocates of primary school sport.

"After this we headed to the tunnel to look at some of the memorabilia and our club records. They were interested in the different trophies and asked which one was the most important between the Challenge Cup and Grand Final – obviously I said the Grand Final because we've done so much success with that!  I think the main part of what they found interesting was that mural at the end of the tunnel, where it sort of depicts that group of players coming back to support Rob Burrow.  It’s evidence of that togetherness and altruism that gels and joins groups of people who’ve had success.

"I spoke to them about our Spirit of the Rhino, and the process that we go through, forging a single piece itself into the whole.  We then met Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair player Tristan Norfolk, who they wished for his nomination for the Wheels of Steel and they also met James Simpson-Hill and he spoke about switching to play for Scotland in this year’s Wheelchair World Cup, which William thought was interesting given he had played for England and after James had told him about visiting Scotland and having an epiphany, and then decided to play for Scotland. 

"We walked back and I gave them a gift of a Rhinos shirt and ball from their children, before they left to go to Wakefield to meet Sir Kev at his day three finish.

"It was wonderful to see the future King and Queen of England taking a genuine interest in our sport and learning how Rugby League is at the heart of our communities.  They provide spaces for people from communities to come together and thrive.  They understand that, and I think Kev is the embodiment of that and what he's doing with his charity fundraising now continues that spirit of altruism, love, care, camaraderie and brotherhood, that Rob quoted on his mural at the stadium."