Leeds Rugby League Heritage Podcast

5. The Californian who came to Leeds

25 min · 22. feb. 2026
episode 5. The Californian who came to Leeds cover

Description

This episode recalls the remarkable story of the American All Stars Rugby League team that toured to Australia, New Zealand and France in the 1950s and their star back, Californian Al Kirkland, who impressed so much that he got the chance to play for Parramatta and Leeds despite never having played Rugby League before his first game for the national US team. We are joined by the author of No Helmets Required: The remarkable story of the American All Stars, Gavin Willacy for this episode to tell us more about the team and in particular how Kirkland came to play for Leeds, scoring on his debut.

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7 episodes

episode 7. Leeds' first Australian Dinny Campbell artwork

7. Leeds' first Australian Dinny Campbell

A podcast from Rugby League club Leeds Rhinos which sees members of the club's Heritage Committee bring stories from the Rhinos past into the present, including key players and figures, as well as major events in the club's history.This episode Heritage Committee Chair Phil Caplan speaks to Lyndall Nairn, the great niece of legendary Leeds player Dinny Campbell, heritage number 266. Known to everyone as ‘Dinny’, the first Australian to sign for the club became one of its greatest ambassadors back home. Leeds sourced their agent in NSW to find ‘a good back’ and the recommendation was Penrith-born former three-time Wallaby international Campbell, who originally signed from Easts for three years, for £350 and a £2 match fee, but stayed three times as long.

9. apr. 20269 min