Leeds Rhinos head groundsman Ryan Golding has shared images of how he’s battled this week’s adverse weather conditions to ensure tonight’s Super League clash with Catalans can still go ahead.
Britain has been blighted by extreme conditions this past week, with storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin causing damage across the country, including regular snowfall and flooding in parts of the north.
Several Championship, Academy, Reserves and amateur games were forced to be called off last weekend as a result of the weather.
The Rhinos are no strangers to floods, having had their Kirkstall training base destroyed when the River Aire burst its banks on Boxing Day 2015.
The club confirmed, however, that newly installed flood defences kept the facility safe and unaffected this time around when the Aire peaked at 2.62m on Sunday night.
Golding also confirmed that no training sessions had been lost by Richard Agar’s side, who use both Kirkstall and Headingley as part of their preparation for a game.
He tweeted: “90mm rainfall, 70mph gusts, 7 days, 3 storms, 2” snowfall, 1 training ground flood defence installation, 0 training sessions lost and a Super League matchday @leedsrhinos v @DragonsOfficiel on @SkySportsRL. Everyone pulling together this week. Hurry up spring”
Leeds Rhinos face Catalans Dragons at Headingley at 8pm tonight. You can follow all the build-up and action via the Rugby League Live blog from 6pm.