Six Leeds Beckett graduates are making their World Cup Rugby League debuts for the Jamaican national team in the nation’s first ever appearance in the tournament.
Ashton Goulding, who grew up in Leeds and then played for Leeds Rhinos from 17, has been given the captaincy of the nation at just 26 years old.
Golding said “it’s a surreal moment” to be returning back to Leeds as an international.
“To captain Jamaica, where everything started for me, the feeling probably won’t sink in for five or ten years,” he said.
The fullback said his time at the university was a big reason for his success. Golding said that the “city has given me every opportunity of my life.”
Jamaica share a group with Ireland, New Zealand and Lebanon and even if the group is tough, the players are confident that they can perform and bring some good spirits to the country back at home.
Michael Lawrence is another of the old students and was 27 and already a professional player when he started at Leeds Beckett five years ago.
“The staff and the support, I absolutely loved it,” he said about the time he spent University.
Now coming back with fellow graduates from the University to step onto the biggest stage possible is “a dream come true,” he said.
Having played over three hundred and fourty games for the Huddersfield Giants and twice for Jamaica, he’s one of the veterans of the national team and will be looked to for advice.
Jamaica will play world number one ranked in the world New Zealand on Saturday at MKM stadium in the second game of their group stage.
