Hunslet become dual-code outfit
A DUAL-CODE rugby club is set to return to the Rugby League heartland of Leeds, with Jason Robinson's former club Hunslet launching a 15-man, semi-pro franchise team.
Four years after the ‘marriage' between Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie (now Leeds Tykes) broke up, Hunslet have announced they have become an all-year round rugby operation.
New RU franchise Hunslet Wolves will compete in the Yorkshire RFU Merit League for the 2024/25 season and share the 5,000-capacity South
Leeds Stadium with the third-tier RL team and fellow new tenants South Leeds Football Club, as part of a new sporting partnership.
The franchise will be led by French-American tech entrepreneur Dom Einhorn, and Hunslet native Dave Ellis will coach the team.
An ex-RL player, Ellis was one of the most successful early cross-code coaching pioneers with his defensive strategy contributing massively to France's success under Bernard Laporte.
Ellis was also on the All Blacks coaching staff during the 2005 Lions series.
“I'd like to thank Hunslet for the way they have both supported and welcomed this opportunity. I want to see both Clubs thrive and make South Leeds a real stronghold for both rugby codes. I can't wait to get started,” Ellis said.
The Wolves will also be launching a women's team, headed up by former Northampton, Wasps, Bath, and Leeds Tykes prop Charlie Beech. Beech was coached at the Tykes by Hunslet Hall of Fame legend James Lowes.
Hunslet RLFC CEO Neil Hampshire commented: “As prime tenants at South Leeds Stadium, we see the value in other semi-professional teams playing at the stadium. We believe that not only gives us more opportunity to grow our own fanbase, but also to help drive additional investment into the facility.
“These are exciting times for South Leeds and having the stadium utilised for RL, RU, Football and Athletics will make it a key sporting hub in the City. The Wolves ambitions match our own and working in collaboration can only help both Clubs to achieve them. I wish them every success on behalf of everyone involved with Hunslet RLFC.”
Hunslet had a rugby union team before they became one of 21 clubs to break away from the RFU and form the Northern Union.
Yorkshire Cup winners in 1892, Hunslet's days in rugby union ended in controversy with their then Parkside ground closed by the Yorkshire RFU after crowd trouble.
Twenty-one police officers had to rescue a match official from a section of the crowd after the defeat to Brighouse Rangers in April 1895.
The ground was due to remain closed until November but as the ‘Great Schism' occurred in August, it was never fully imposed.
