Former Leeds Rhinos Challenge Cup winner Darren Fleary lands new role with Super League rivals
Leeds Rhinos cult hero Darren Fleary has taken on a new role at one of their top-flight rivals.
Fleary, 53, was previously a part-time member of Huddersfield Giants’ academy staff, but has stepped up to become assistant to head of youth Steve Fox. Fleary joined Rhinos as a player from Keighley Cougars in 1997 and went on to win two Great Britain caps and play three times for England at the 2000 World Cup.
The powerful prop was a Challenge Cup winner in 1999 and runner-up the following year, as well as playing in Rhinos’ 1998 Grand Final loss to Wigan Warriors. After 127 games for Leeds, he joined hometown club Giants in 2003 and retired two years later after a final season with Leigh.
Fleary said: “It is a really exciting time for me, being part of Huddersfield Giants full time. To work with [head of youth and under-18s coach] Steve Fox again with the academy is going to be brilliant, so I’m really excited about it.” Fleary added he is keen to pass on “my kind of thought process on the game and how I tried to play the game and look after myself and show that to the next generation of players of the Giants”.
Of Fleary, Fox, who moved to Giants from Rhinos’ backroom staff, said: “His experience and knowledge and the way he speaks to the younger generation is very, very good. We knew he was the right man for the job.
“His experience in coaching is very good anyway, but the way he certainly specialises with our forwards and defensively, we were keen to bring him on board. For me, it’s absolutely huge.”