Lock: Tom Palmer (1998-06)
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.
Lock: Dom Barrow (2010-2013)
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.
Flanker: Danny Paul (2004-12)
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.
Flanker: Calum Clark (2007-10)
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.
Number 8: Jordan Crane (2004-07)
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.