DISBANDED | The stunning XV of stars who came through the Leeds academy

They've reported that 'Seven members of staff and three senior academy players were called into Headingley on Monday and made redundant.'

Here, we celebrate one of rugby's greatest ever academies by looking through an all-time XV of graduates:

*Profiles from the Yorkshire Carnegie website

Rob joined Leeds in 2001 and was developed through the club’s Academy system. He was identified as a prospect for the future and one of the highlights of his time in the Academy was winning the National Colts Cup in 2004. He made his senior debut in the 2005-06 season, against Llanelli Scarlets in the Powergen Cup. Rob left the club at the end of the 2008-09 season to join Newcastle Falcons, having helped the team secure promotion back to the Premiership and making a total of 53 appearances and scoring 11 tries. During his time at Leeds Rob represented England U16’s Schools before graduating to England U19 for the World Championships in South Africa in 2004. In 2005 Rob played for England in the IRB Paris Sevens and during the 2008-09 season was part of the England Sevens side who won the Wellington Sevens.  He returned to the club in 2013 for a two season spell at the club, before injury ended his playing career. 

Local born David Doherty originally joined the club on a dual code contract but never made a first team appearance for the Rhinos, instead making his Leeds Tykes debut in 2004 aged 17, to become the youngest ever player to play in the Premiership. Doherty, who captained England U18 Clubs, made a bigger impact the following season when he scored a try to secure Leeds’ place in their first ever Cup final at Twickenham. He made a total of 25 appearances for the side and scored 7 tries before leaving the club in 2006 to join London Wasps. In 2005 David represented England U19 in the Six Nations tournament.

Huddersfield born centre Luther Burrell made his first team debut against Pertemps Bees in the 2006-07 season, after excelling in the Academy set up. In the 2007-08 season he once again broke through to the first team squad, making his Guinness Premiership debut against Saracens. Alongside his development with the first team Luther also played a pivotal role in the Academy team. Luther has also experienced playing Rugby League and before joining his local Rugby Union side spent two years with Huddersfield RL.

Full back, Alex Lozowski, made his Leeds Carnegie debut against Pontypridd in the British and Irish Cup during the 2012-13 season, aged 19. He is the son of former England and Wasps centre Rob and previously played for the Wasps Academy. 

He is one of the most successful products of the Leeds Academy. He emerged through the Academy system to make his debut in 2004 and did not look back, becoming the team’s highest try scorer in the club’s history with 51. Tom won international recognition with England 7’s and England Saxons during his time at Leeds before leaving the club in 2009 to join Newcastle Falcons. 

Joe joined the Leeds Carnegie Academy from Rishworth School and has established himself as one of the most accomplished players in the Leeds ranks. He was part of the Leeds side who won the Yorkshire Cup in 2009 and the following season made an impressive first team debut, scoring 18 of his sides 28 points in their win over Leicester Tigers in the Anglo Welsh Cup. Joe has represented Yorkshire and England up to U18 level, helping the England U18 side secure third place in the AER Championship in 2008. Joe left Leeds in 2010 to join Northampton but returned to the club the following season. 

One of the big success stories of the Leeds Academy, Danny Care is now one of the most high profile players in English Rugby as a regular in the England national team. Danny joined the Leeds Academy whilst still at school in Otley, he won the National Colts cup in 2004 with the club before breaking through to the first team during the 2004-05 season against Valladolid in the European Shield. The 2005-06 season saw Danny develop into one of the most exciting players at the club, bringing him to the attention of many rival clubs and following Leeds’ relegation in the 2005-06 season he left the club after making 12 first team appearances, to join Harlequins. Danny has gone onto represent England with whom he is now an established member of the Elite Player squad. Whilst at Leeds Danny represented England U18 and U19, helping them to their then best ever finish in the IRB U19 World Championship, where he scored a try in England’s third/fourth play off with France to secure a third place.

He signed his first professional contract with Yorkshire Carnegie in the summer of 2018. The 20-year-old, who has previously trained with Sale Sharks, then joined the Premiership side on a full-time deal ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Leeds born hooker Harry Hannan signed for Leeds in 2006 and has made outstanding progress in the Leeds Academy that led to him making his first team debut during the 2010-11 season against Northampton Saints in the final game of the season and was promoted to the senior squad at the start of the next campaign. 

The Harrogate Grammar School pupil joined Leeds Carnegie in 2006 and marked his debut for the first team with a try in the EDF Energy National Trophy win against Birmingham Solihull and he capped off a fine year by helping the Lees U19 win the Yorkshire Cup against Beverley. Phil was part of the England U18 side who claimed third place in the AER European Under-18 Championships back in 2006 and was named in the England U20 squad at the start of the 2009-10 season. 

Tom first came to Leeds to begin a University degree but was soon spotted by director of rugby Phil Davies, at his first game playing for the University. Tom played for Leeds Tykes under 19s during his first year of study, and then decided to change to part-time study when he was taken into the first team squad in September 1998. Tom made his debut against Blackheath in 1998 and went onto captain the club and make 188 appearances for the club. He was part of the side who clinched promotion to the Premiership for the first time in the club’s history and was in the starting line up for the game against Bath when Leeds secured their first ever piece of silverware in the Powergen Cup. Tom left the club at the end of the 2005-06 season to join London Wasps with whom he won the Heineken Cup before joining French side Stade Francais. Tom earned a place in the England A squad whilst still playing in National Division One with Leeds.

Dominic was previously with Stocksbridge, where he played from the age of nine to 11 before switching to the Barnsley club from 2005-08. He subsequently joined Leeds Carnegie for whom he made his A team debut against RGC 1404, the new North Wales regional side. He made his Leeds Carnegie debut in the 2010-11 season against Llanelli in the LV Cup. He marked his arrival on the international scene with the opening try against Australia in the England U18’s 30-28 win at Heywood Road in 2009. After captaining England U16, he toured South Africa with the U18 squad in 2009 and appeared against Boland and Western Province, having also won representative honours for Yorkshire U15 and U16 and the North in the older age group. 

Phil Davies called Danny up to make his debut in the 2004 in the European fixture against Valladolid after making a big impression in the A team. In 2006 he the won the Yorkshire Cup with the Academy and the following season was promoted to the senior squad. He twice helped the team gain promotion to the Guinness Premiership. A former Leo’s amateur he won representative honours with England U18 clubs.

Calum Clark became the youngest forward to ever play in the Guinness Premiership, when he made his Leeds debut against Saracens aged just 19. He was 14 when he joined the club and after progressing through the Academy ranks made 23 appearances in his debut season. He was twice named Young Player of the Year and helped the team achieve promotion to the Guinness Premiership during the 2008-09 season. Calum first earned international recognition with England U20 and was part of the England side who made it through to IRB U20 World Championship final. In 2009 he was named captain of the England U20 side for the U20 Six Nations and IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship. 

The back rower joined the Academy in 2004 and made his debut aged just 18 for Leeds against Grenoble. He made the step up to the first team in ease, indicating a promising future in the game. He made a total of 28 appearances for the club in which he scored 5 tries, before leaving to Leicester Tigers following Leeds’ relegation at the end of the 2005-06 season. Whilst at Leeds Jordan represented England at U18 level and captained the England schools team. In 2005 he captained England in the IRB Under 19 Championship. Since joining Leicester Jordan has won full international honours with England after helping Leicester to the Guinness Premiership title scoring the only try in the 2008-09 final.