Leeds Rhinos sign Jamaica prop Delaine Gittens on one-year deal

Leeds Rhinos have signed Jamaica international prop Delaine Gittens on a one-year deal, adding to their front row before the 2027 season.

The club confirmed the move on Wednesday. Leeds Rhinos said the contract runs until the end of the 2027 season. Gittens, 25, joins from Halifax Panthers, where he played 26 times in 2026 after spells with Workington. He also trained with Leigh during the off-season.

A prop is one of the heavy forwards in the front row. In rugby league, that means carrying the ball into contact and making the tackles that stop the other side gaining ground. Strong, reliable props are often the players who give a team its platform.

Gittens was the second player to join Leeds this week. France international prop Hugo Salabio signed a one-year deal with the club on Tuesday. The Rhinos said the aim of both moves is to strengthen the front row under head coach Brad Arthur.

Gittens told the club's website that the chance to join Leeds was something he was really proud of. BBC Sport reported the signing, and Total Rugby League said Ian Blease described it as "interesting".

For a player who has moved between clubs in the lower tiers, a full-time contract at a club of Leeds' size is a clear step up. How much he gets to play in 2027 will depend on the competition for places in the Rhinos pack, and that will only become clear once the new season gets under way.