The History of the Leeds Rhinos

A professional rugby league team in the north of England, Leeds Rhinos can trace its history back to 1870. Today the club plays in the European Super League.

  1. Early Years

    • Founded in 1870, the Leeds St John's club quickly became a successful side, reaching the Yorkshire Cup Final in 1887. In 1890 the club dropped the St John's part of the name and moved to a new ground.

    Rugby League

    • In 1895, Leeds was one of the clubs to break away from the Rugby Football Union to form the Northern Rugby League. This meant players could be paid for playing rugby rather than having to play as amateurs.

    Success

    • Leeds became a real force to be reckoned with in the 1920s and 1930s, winning the Yorkshire Cup and the Challenge Cup on several occasions.

    Champions and Afterwards

    • Leeds won the Rugby League Championship for the first time in 1961 and again in 1969. Success continued in the 1970s but the 1980s proved a period of decline for the club.

    Relaunch

    • After financial troubles in the mid-1990s, the club was relaunched in 1997 as Leeds Rhinos. The club have enjoyed a great deal of success and even beat the Australian team Canterbury Bulldogs to became world club champions in 2005.