Debut: Vs Wigan Warriors Women (H) 12/09/2021

Honours -

Challenge Cup: Finalist 2022

Elychia Watson joined Leeds Rhinos during the 2021 season and made her debut against Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Women's Super League. Although it was her sole appearance of the year, 2022 saw Watson feature four times in all competitions, including the Challenge Cup Final defeat to St Helens at Elland Road. In the league competition, she got her first try for the club as one of eight try scorers in a 60-4 win at Headingley. 

2023 proved a tough year for Watson as she was sidelined for the whole season through injury. A year later, she bounced back to play six games in all competitions, scoring tries against Hull KR in the Cup and Huddersfield in the League.

She started her rugby career with Stanningley aged 16 and made an instant impact with two tries in her first game against Barrow Raiders.  After leaving Roundhay High School, she joined the Army and began playing for their Rugby League team, making her first appearance in 2016 and going onto be part of the 2020 Army Team of the Year.

The centre also played for Huddersfield Giants, but had two years away from the game as she recovered from an ACL reconstruction. When she was back to full fitness she was deployed to Iraq overseas with the Army for five months, but on her return, she was asked to trial with the Rhinos, where she impressed the coaches and was offered a place in the squad.

Watson has a degree in HR Management Degree from the University of Surrey. She described herself as an 'adrenaline junkie' growing up and has done sky diving as well as charity running challenges and hill walking.   She has played sports including football, basketball, netball, hockey and athletics and once won the award for Strongest Woman in a 1000lb weightlifting competition.

Her job in the Army involves speaking in schools about her career and life experiences and says returning to her old school Roundhay and being able to give back by talking to their pupils was one of her proudest moments.