Sam Horner: The Leeds Rhinos Foundation hero changing lives through Rugby League

Leeds Rhinos foundation is built on the principle of ‘Changing Lives through the Power of Sport’, and nobody embodies that more than Sam Horner, Rugby League Development officer, dad, granddad and Leeds lad through-and-through.

“It’s not just about throwing the leather around,” says Sam. “It’s about creating a better environment for kids to thrive in.”

Three pillars of communication, education and trust, underpin Sam’s approach to his role, and that of the foundation within the community.

From supporting 20 clubs around the city in coaching, training and playing the sport, to mental health work, working with NEETS (young people not in employment, education or training) and helping adults in prisons to play the game and work towards their first coaching qualification, Sam is passionate about the city, the game, and the power of the sport and all it stands for.

“You cannot do a job like mine from a laptop – you have to be there in person, to communicate and go out there to build up that trust,” says Sam. He has huge praise for the volunteers who work tirelessly in clubs around the city, and says he is proud of the fact his coaching methods –player pathways, small-sided games and the like – have been adopted by the sport not just here in Leeds but throughout the country.

An inspiration in the city

Dan Busfield, head of partnerships and development at Leeds Rhinos Foundation, says Sam is an inspiration. He said not everyone could show the resilience and determination that Sam has shown to do what he has done in Leeds, and his passion for ensuring that the sport is the convenor which brings people together.

“If you go into any community club in Leeds, there is not a single person who does not know him,” he said.

Born in the shadow of the city’s prison, Sam, now 66, grew up in a modest back-to-back terrace and learned first-hand what belonging to a team and a club can mean as you grow up.

“It’s a great game, and a great community game,” he said. “It builds resilience and a positive mindset.”

After swapping the building trade – Sam was a bricklayer who ran his own business with 30 employees – for the classroom, he seized the opportunity to go ‘back to school’ and study for a teaching degree so that he could coach sports. That, in turn led him to get involved in the foundation from its inception in 2005, becoming a full-time development officer in 2007

In a place as diverse as Leeds, Sam says different areas have different needs.

“We understand this city,” he said. “The impact of my role is not just in Rugby League, it’s in developing people.” Whether that is seeing young players go on to become professionals, or seeing those struggling find a purpose when they come to training. It all helps build stronger communities.

“It’s not just about performance and creating great athletes; it’s just as important that those who will never make a great Rugby League player become decent human beings,” Sam says.

“The impact of the foundation in this city in the last 21 years has been unbelievable.”

Employment Hero UK is Leeds Rhinos’ HR, payroll and hiring partner. The company helps businesses manage their people, from recruitment to payroll. Underpinning all of it is a mission to make employment easier for everyone, from supporting young people as they take their first steps into work to getting more people into jobs.

Past praise and future progress

In 2024 the Rugby Football League (RFL) Roll of Honour welcomed Sam into its prestigious ranks, recognising his extraordinary contributions to the sport both on and off the field. The accolade celebrates those whose commitment and achievements have left a lasting mark on Rugby

At the time Leeds Rhinos Foundation CEO, Bob Bowman, summed up what Sam means to the foundation and the city, by saying: “Sam is quite simply a wonderful human being! This accolade is well deserved recognition for Sam’s involvement in the sport he loves so much, and he has touched so many lives so positively.”

And Sam shows no sign of letting the grass grow under his feet.

“It makes me tick, because this is not a normal job,” he said. “We want to keep kids off the streets and lead them into employment and into being good citizens.”

Both he and Dan said this starts, not with the NEETS, but with kids in primary schools and encompasses more than just sport. Some of the clubs Sam works with have become hubs for more than just training and the game itself. Programmes include mental health workshops, 10 steps to good nutrition, health advice to combat smoking and vaping and work on touchline behaviour. Dan says Sam is at the forefront of this holistic approach.

And he’s also helped inspire and train the next generation of ‘Sams’ – people like Richard Tate, a young man with Downs Syndrome who Sam has mentored throughout his life, who has just been made a vice-president of the foundation.

“You don’t realise it sometimes,” Sam said. “But we do make a difference.”

Maisie Goss, UK VP of Marketing at Employment Hero, said: “Sam is exactly the kind of hero Yorkshire Runs on Heroes is all about. He has shown up for young people, clubs and communities across Leeds for years, and his work proves what can happen when people back the power of sport. At Employment Hero, we want to celebrate everyday heroes like Sam, and we are proud to be working more closely with Leeds Rhinos Foundation to do just that.”

Yorkshire Runs on Heroes

This interview is part of a content series called Yorkshire Runs on Heroes, supporting Employment Hero's campaign All Heroes, aren’t we?, which aims to celebrate the everyday heroes and businesses throughout the county making a huge difference to the region.

And find out more about Employment Hero UK’s campaign All Heroes, Aren’t We? here.