Seven-time Super League winner Jason Davidson returns in Leeds Rhinos backroom revamp

The longest-serving member of Rhinos’ backroom staff, Davidson spent 13 years as the club’s head of athletic performance.

He was a key figure in all but the first of Rhinos eight Grand Final wins and was in charge of the players’ conditioning in 2015 when Leeds had their greatest season, lifting the Challenge Cup, topping Super League and completing a clean-sweep with victory at Old Trafford.

He switched to become team manager ahead of the 2019 campaign, but is now back in his previous role, taking over from Chris Black.

“Jason has come back to oversee our high-performance department,” coach Richard Agar confirmed.

“That is something I am really positive and happy about.

"Jason has very much got runs on the board, his record speaks for itself - his experience and the amount of trophy-winning teams - be it Super League or Grand Final - he has overseen at the club.

“We have reshaped our performance department a bit and we feel Jase has got a terrific team around him.”

Dan Grange will continue as assistant strength and conditioning coach, with Dan Weaving - a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University - and Ryan White providing sports science expertise.

“They are two specialist sport scientists who we think are right at the top of their game,” Agar added.

Rhinos also have a new nutritionist in Lauren Delany, who has been a member of the Ireland women’s rugby union side since 2018 and also plays as a full-back at club level for Sale Sharks.

Agar is confident Rhinos’ performance department can get the best out of the playing squad this season.

“I think it is an area we can have some improvements in this year, there’s certainly scope for some development there,” he insisted.

“I am happy to get a guy of Jason’s experience and with the team we are surrounding him with, there’s some highly intelligent people and a lot of potential in our high-performance department.”

Black, who replaced Davidson two years ago, has left the club.

Agar said: “Chris has moved on to set his own business up and he certainly goes with our best wishes.”

Rhinos’ director of rugby Kevin Sinfield was a player for most of Davidson’s first spell as Rhinos’ top conditioner.

He said: “Jason has always been a big part of the club.

“He has won seven comp’s so he has got a lot of experience, he is very good on the ground and the break has done him some good.

“He is fired up and ready to go.”

Davidson was the first player born in the city to sign for Sheffield Eagles, when the club was run by Rhinos' now-chief executive Gary Hetherington.

He also played for Doncaster and returned to Sheffield as an academy coach after the club ‘merged’ with Huddersfield Giants.

He moved into conditioning during a five-year stint at Huddersfield, then followed coach Tony Smith to Leeds.

He was also England’s head conditioner during Smith’s time as national team boss and worked with the Exiles side in 2011.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate in sport by Leeds Beckett University in 2016.

Rhinos’ pre-season began with fitness testing on Monday before their first skills session the following day.

As an elite sports club, Rhinos have been given the all-clear to continue training through the new national lockdown, with players being tested for Covid-19 twice each week.

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