9 Aug 2024

Leah Schofield and Freya Whitehead promoted to First Team

Huddersfield Giants Women are pleased to announce the promotion of Leah Schofield and Freya Whitehead from the club's U19's Academy to the Women's First Team.

Schofield, a second-row/loose forward currently on the England Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE), played her community rugby at Queensbury and joined the Giants Women's U19's Academy at the end of 2023. Leah recently picked up a Player of the Match award for Jacob Holmes' 19's side after a gritty performance versus York.

Whitehead is a hooker by trade who joined the Academy from Stanningley for the 2024 season, where she has made senior appearances in the this year's Women's Championship. She also made an unofficial debut for the Giants in the Nines. The #9 was also enrolled into the DiSE programme with Schofield, where they both were picked up in U15s & U16s West Yorkshire Talent Hubs.

On her promotion, Schofield commented:

"I was shocked when I initially got the call-up, I was asked if I'd be available for York and if I'd want to play in it, it was an offer I just couldn't turn down. I was surprised, probably a bit taken aback a little bit as I didn't think I would be playing for the Women's First Team for some time!

"I rang my Mum and Dad straight away, I was so excited and I just wanted to share the news!

"The team have been supportive whilst we've been training alongside them with the U19s so the transition hasn't come as too much of a shock to the system.

"My aims going forward will be to stay and keep my place in the First Team. Through hard work I want to earn good game time, which will hopefully see me in an England shirt - I'd love to play for my country! The thought of playing in the NRLW is also something I'm aiming for, the standard of rugby over there is great and I want to be a part of it."

Young #9 Whitehead added:

“I am looking forward to the prospect of progressing my game. I've spent some time with the First Team in training but I had the chance to play in the Women's Nines Finals in Hull, which was a great experience and something I was incredibly happy to have done.

"It was really useful to get an understanding of the game at a high level as well as working alongside the current First Team players. They were really helpful and gave me a great deal of insight.

"Coming through the ranks at Giants, I've learned so much about the club and its culture and I can't wait to continue on my journey with the club, which has already started incredibly well.

"I'm really excited to have made the First Team officially and I'm forever grateful for the opportunity I've been given."

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