Leeds Rugby League Heritage Podcast

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Bringing the stories from the past to the present, members of the club's heritage committee share some unique stories from players and Headingley Stadium down the years.

Episodes

  1. Apr 9

    7. Leeds' first Australian Dinny Campbell

    A podcast from Rugby League club Leeds Rhinos which sees members of the club's Heritage Committee bring stories from the Rhinos past into the present, including key players and figures, as well as major events in the club's history.This episode Heritage Committee Chair Phil Caplan speaks to Lyndall Nairn, the great niece of legendary Leeds player Dinny Campbell, heritage number 266. Known to everyone as ‘Dinny’, the first Australian to sign for the club became one of its greatest ambassadors back home. Leeds sourced their agent in NSW to find ‘a good back’ and the recommendation was Penrith-born former three-time Wallaby international Campbell, who originally signed from Easts for three years, for £350 and a £2 match fee, but stayed three times as long.

  2. Apr 6

    6. Wally Lewis on Kangaroos, Queensland and playing at Headingley

    On this episode of the Leeds Rugby League heritage podcast, we caught up with the legendary Australian and Queensland player Wally 'The King' Lewis when he visited AMT Headingley at the end of 2025. Lewis chatted to Jamie Jones-Buchanan about his memories of playing at AMT Headingley for his state and country alongside his recollections of his time playing England with Wakefield Trinity.

  3. Feb 22

    5. The Californian who came to Leeds

    This episode recalls the remarkable story of the American All Stars Rugby League team that toured to Australia, New Zealand and France in the 1950s and their star back, Californian Al Kirkland, who impressed so much that he got the chance to play for Parramatta and Leeds despite never having played Rugby League before his first game for the national US team. We are joined by the author of No Helmets Required: The remarkable story of the American All Stars, Gavin Willacy for this episode to tell us more about the team and in particular how Kirkland came to play for Leeds, scoring on his debut.

  4. Jan 10

    4. Challenge Cup, Bridgend and the snow

    A podcast from Rugby League club Leeds Rhinos which sees members of the club's Heritage Committee bring stories from the Rhinos past into the present, including key players and figures, as well as major events in the club's history.This episode recalls the time when Bridgend came to Headingley on a famous, bitterly cold afternoon on 27th January, 1985. Leeds thrashed Welsh side Bridgend 68-6 in heavy snow at Headingley but the scoreline was just a footnote on a remarkable taleAustralian star Eric Grothe scored a hat-trick in memorable, challenging conditions that saw the Welsh team arrive late and play almost immediately and include their bus driver on the subs bench to make up the numbers.

  5. 03/26/2025

    3. The Ashes

    In this episode of the Leeds Rugby League Heritage podcast, we are joined by Prof Tony Collins to mark the return of the Rugby League Ashes to AMT Headingley this Autumn as England and Australia clash in the 3rd Test. Tony talks about the unique place Headingley has in the history of the most famous clash in the sport and why returning to AMT Headingley will be so special for the Kangaroos.

  6. 03/19/2025

    2. Roy Francis

    In this episode of the Leeds Rugby League Heritage podcast, we are joined by Prof Tony Collins who gives a unique insight into the life of legendary former player and Leeds coach Roy Francis.Collins has written a new book 'Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader' which comes out this June. In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no other: Roy Francis. He led teams to championships and Wembley finals, revolutionised the art of coaching, and inspired his players to incredible achievements. But even more amazingly for the time, he was a Black man.As the illegitimate child of a mixed-race couple who gave him up for adoption, his story recounts his upbringing in a Black family living in the Welsh coalfields, a childhood shaped by memories of the 1919 Welsh race riots and, foremost, his gift for rugby. Aged just seventeen, Roy went on to play professionally for Wigan, and despite facing racism, became the first Black player to play for the British Lions in either rugby codes.Roy Francis became Hull rugby league club coach in 1950 where he introduced video-analysis, sports psychology and personalised training - revolutionary methods which turned a mediocre team into championship winners. His crowning glory came as his team triumphed in the famous 1968 'Watersplash' Wembley Cup Final, before heading down under in 1969 as North Sydney rugby league club coach.Through archives, family members' accounts and former players' memories, Roy Francis tells the story of a family's journey from slavery to sporting success, and of a remarkable man who sacrificed his own playing talent to revolutionise coaching. Order your copy here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roy-Francis-Rugbys-Forgotten-Leader/dp/1399417959

  7. 03/12/2025

    1. The Birth of Headingley

    A new podcast from Rugby League club Leeds Rhinos, The Leeds Rhinos Heritage Podcast sees members of the club's Heritage Committee bring stories from the Rhinos past into the present, including key players and figures, as well as major events in the club's history. Episode one sees Phil Caplan share how there came to be a stadium where it is today in the heart of Headingley, as well as the early years of the famous ground.

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Bringing the stories from the past to the present, members of the club's heritage committee share some unique stories from players and Headingley Stadium down the years.

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