Meet the Team
Nigel O'Flaherty Johnston
Rhinos Community Development Manager. Nigel is the Community Development Manager and joined Leeds Rhinos in 2006 after working at Bradford Bulls as Development Manager.Nigel has worked in Rugby League Development for 15 years, his first post being Rugby League National Development Officer for Ireland. As well as his development work Nigel has also played and coached Rugby League at amateur and professional levels.Nigel is responsible for managing the Rhinos Community team which consists of developing, delivering and monitoring community programmes, activities and events alongside the rest of the community team.Away from Leeds Rhinos Nigel spends time with his family and enjoys playing the Saxophone.
email: nigel.johnston@leedsrugby.com
Sam Horner
Rhinos Community Development Manager. Sam joined the Rhinos community team as the amateur clubs link in November 2007 after working in construction for thirty years. He has always been a fan of the Rhinos and worked as a volunteer for seven years previously working on the Leeds Rhinos Scholarship Scheme and foundation. His main responsibility now is linking Leeds Rhinos with the amateur rugby clubs throughout Leeds. Since joining the Community team Sam has developed coaching workshops and has helped organise other projects including an annual celebration dinner which brining together all avenues of Rugby League; professional, amateur and service area.Sam is a keen sportsman and has been involved with rugby at both professional and amateur level and is still playing in an over 35's Masters League.
email: sam.horner@leedsrugbyfoundation.org
Gareth Cooke
Rhinos Development Officer. Gareth, known affectionately by school children and his colleagues as Captain Cook or Cookie, started working as a rugby development officer for Rugby Union side Leeds Carnegie in 2005.After three years in this role he switched codes and became a development officer for the Rhinos. Gareth's transition to the Leeds Rhinos community team brings opportunity for Gareth to work on a variety of projects and his main role now is the delivery of Rugby League coaching and assemblies within Leeds primary schools. In July 2008 Gareth organised a world record breaking Tag festival at Harewood House which attracted over a hundred schools and a thousand children to compete.Before joining Leeds Rugby Gareth worked with the RFU as a Rugby Community Coach. In his spare time Gareth likes cooking and sees himself as the next Jamie Oliver.
email: gareth.cooke@leedsrugby.com
