Leeds Rhinos news: Ryan Hall announces immediate retirement and new role as testimonial v Hull FC confirmed

Hall, who turns 39 next month, will remain at Rhinos in a new role on the club’s commercial staff. He has been granted a three-month testimonial which begins in December and includes a benefit game against Hull FC the following month when he is expected to pull on his boots one final time.

Leeds-born Hall made his Rhinos debut in 2007 and is the joint-17th highest try scorer in the British game, with 358. That total include 257 touchdowns in 381 appearances during two spells with Leeds, from 2007-2018 and 2025-2026.

He spent two campaigns at Sydney Roosters in the southern hemisphere NRL and then had four seasons as a Hull KR player before returning to his home city club. Internationally, he played twice for Great Britain and scored 39 tries in 40 Test matches with England.

Announcing his decision today (Friday), Hall confirmed: “I’m officially retiring from playing rugby league. I think the time’s right I hang up the boots. I’ve done it for 20 years and I’ve loved every minute of it.

“The club’s in a good position to go with the youth, that’s the natural progression in rugby league. I’ve always wanted the best for the club at heart and if the decision is to go with the youth at this point in time, that suits me down to a tee because I have had 20 years of loving every second of it. That’s enough.”

Hall is a six-time Grand Final winner and scored arguably the most famous try in Leeds’ history when his last-second touchdown secured a league leaders’ shield-clinching victory at Huddersfield Giants in the last game of the 2015 season, keeping Rhinos on course for the treble. That year’s Challenge Cup triumph was his second, after a man of the match performance against Castleford Tigers the previous year.

Hall’s final competitive match was Rhinos’ controversial home defeat by Warrington Wolves in a play-off semi-final two weeks ago, when he scored the hosts’ opening try. “I said at the time it would be a dream come true to go full circle and finish off in front of a Leeds crowd, which I’m lucky enough to have been able to do,” he said.

“Not everybody gets that option to finish how they want to. I know we could have finished with a trophy in our hands, but that wasn’t to be. But I’m certainly over the moon I got to finish at AMT Headingley in front of the crowd that supported me for over 20 years.”

Hall’s testimonial match is likely to be Rhinos’ main rehearsal for the 2027 season and he added: “I will feature in that game. It won’t be massive amounts, that game has got to be a stepping stone to get the players ready who are going to take to the field in round one of Super League, but I will be making a small cameo appearance. It [will] be nice to put the boots on for one final time.”

Paying tribute to Hall, Rhinos coach Brad Arthur said: “I am pleased to have had the honour to work with Ryan over the last couple of years. He has performed at the very highest level for his club and country and he leaves the field on his terms, having maintained his presence for 20 years.

“That is a remarkable achievement. It is testament to the man he is happy to walk away without a huge fanfare, but I am sure with the satisfaction of a job well done.”

Sporting director Ian Blease added: “On behalf of everyone at the Rhinos I would like to thank Ryan for everything he has done for the club. He has been a complete professional and set the standards for our young players to follow.

“He has always put the team first and has enjoyed a career that has rightly seen him recognised as one of the greatest players in the summer era. I am delighted he will still be connected to the club in the next chapter of his career.”

Hall will remain part of the Rhinos family through his commercial role, working with supporters, partners and guests around match days and representing the club.

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