Eighty of the players who will largely form rugby league’s elite for the next decade and beyond came together on the eve of their breakthrough season for Rookie Camp 2024.
The teenagers will all join the new campaign as first- or second-year full-time professionals, a milestone move for the sport’s next generation of heroes.
Hosted by Rugby League Cares at the Carnegie School of Sport campus of Leeds Beckett University, Rookie Camp saw the neo pros listen to a fascinating series of presentations from recently retired players and take part in four engaging workshops designed to smooth their transition into first-team rugby.
Former Super League stars Leon Pryce, Sam Tomkins, Rob Parker, Garreth Carvell, Scott Taylor and Jamie Jones Buchanan were amongst the speakers who shared their own experiences of life as a professional rugby league player.
And RL Cares staff members Damian Gibson, Gareth Ellis, Paul Wood and Bob Beswick all led afternoon workshops, which also involved an informative presentation on maximising the opportunities presented by social media from the RFL’s commercial partners, IMG.
Dr David Laird and his son, Sam, a former Royal Marine who is now a member of RL Cares’s community and health team, delivered a seminar on pain management before the day ended with a talk on the need for teamwork from SAS soldier-turned-author Andy McNab.
RL Cares Director of Welfare and Wellbeing Steve McCormack said: “Rookie Camp is a terrific concept and it was brilliant to see all the youngsters who represent the future of rugby league together in one place as they prepare to set out on such an exciting journey.
“Rookie Camp is designed to ensure that the players become the best they can be, both on and off the field. It gives us an opportunity to introduce the players to RL Cares and tell them what the charity is all about; to share good practise and good advice; and to make them aware that we are here for them.
“I’m immensely proud of the game: I’ve been involved in varying capacities for 30 years and I remain in awe of rugby league players. It was a privilege to meet 80 of the best young players in the world and think that we had the opportunity to be a good influence on them.”
Further reading
Rookie Camp 2023
NRL Rookie Camp 2022
Quote
"Don't let anyone tell you that being a rugby league player is a dream job.
It's not job. It's a dream. This is something you've dreamed about all
your life and you are now living the dream"
- Sam Tomkins
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