Bill Leyland

{{short description|English rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

| name = Bill Leyland

| fullname = Billy Leyland

| image = Billy Leyland.jpg

| image_size =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|2|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Maidstone, Kent, England

| height = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|88|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}

| position = {{rlp|HK}}

| club1 = London Broncos

| year1start = 2022

| year1end = 24

| appearances1 = 35

| tries1 = 13

| goals1 = 0

| fieldgoals1 = 0

| points1 = 52

| club2 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}}

| year2start = 2025

| year2end = present

| appearances2 = 9

| tries2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| fieldgoals2 = 0

| points2 = 0

| club3 = {{nowrap|→ Huddersfield Giants}}

| year3start = 2025{{small|(loan)}}

| year3end =

| appearances3 = 1

| tries3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| fieldgoals3 = 0

| points3 = 0

| new = yes

| source = {{Rugby league records|title=Billy Leyland|id=10981}}[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/bill-leyland/summary.html Rugby League Project]

| updated = 27 June 2025

| module = {{infobox person

| embed = yes

| father =

| spouse =

| relatives = Oli Leyland (brother)

| education = Maidstone Grammar School

| alma_mater = St Mary's University, Twickenham

}}

}}

Bill Leyland (born 3 February 2003) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|hk}} for Hull KR in the Super League.

Background

Leyland was born in Maidstone, Kent, England. His brother Oli Leyland is a fellow London player.[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/brothers-oli-bill-inspire-pupils-rugby-league-london-broncos-b1009633.html Brothers inspire next generation to try rugby league at London Broncos]

He played for the Invicta Panthers as a junior.[https://www.zeeon.co.uk/away-player/bill-leyland Bill Leyland]

Leyland attended Maidstone Grammar School[https://londonbroncosrl.com/2022/06/28/leyland-brothers-inspire-the-next-generation-to-try-out-rugby-league/ Leyland brothers inspire the next generation to try out rugby league] and graduated from St Marys University in Twickenham, London.[https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/sport/scholars/bill-leyland Bill Leyland - Sport: Rugby League]

Playing career

=London Broncos=

He joined the London Broncos first team squad at the start of the 2022 season.

He made his professional debut for the London Broncos in 2022 against the York Knights.[https://londonbroncosrl.com/2023/07/13/bill-leyland-re-signs-for-broncos/ Bill Leyland Re-signs for Broncos]

Leyland was the Championship young player of the year in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62224/-rugby-league-awards-night-2023-%E2%80%93-the-winners|title=Rugby League Awards Night 2023 – the winners|website=www.rugby-league.com}}

On 15 October 2023, Leyland played in the Championship Grand Final victory against Toulouse Olympique in France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/we-said-we-were-going-to-do-it-mike-eccles-revels-in-london-broncos-super-league-return-4372839|title='We said we were going to do it': Mike Eccles revels in London Broncos' Super League return}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67105947/|title=Championship Grand Final: Toulouse 14-18 London Broncos - Capital club back in Super League|work=BBC Sport }}

=Hull Kingston Rovers=

On 15 July 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League on a 2-year deal.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=15 Jul 2024|accessdate=3 Oct 2024|title=Hull KR sign Broncos hooker Leyland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cgrlg22845wo}}

=Huddersfield Giants (loan)=

On 9 April 2025 it was reported that he had signed for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League on loan{{cite web|website=Love Rugby League|date=9 Apr 2025|author=Ben Olawumi|title=Huddersfield Giants snap up Hull KR hooker as highly-rated starlet tied down|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/huddersfield-giants-snap-up-hull-kr-hooker-as-highly-rated-starlet-tied-down}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}