Sharing beer and McDonald’s in their kit - how Leeds Rhinos toasted their Challenge Cup triumph at Wembley during ‘surreal’ trip home

LEEDS RHINOS’ coach Richard Agar has revealed their “surreal” Wembley celebrations involved calling in at McDonald’s at Tibshelf Services - with players still in full kit.
GREAT DAY: Leeds Rhinos celebrate winning the Coral Challenge Cup after defeating Salford at wembley. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comGREAT DAY: Leeds Rhinos celebrate winning the Coral Challenge Cup after defeating Salford at wembley. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
GREAT DAY: Leeds Rhinos celebrate winning the Coral Challenge Cup after defeating Salford at wembley. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Ordinarily, the club would have toasted Saturday’s Coral Challenge Cup final win against Salford Red Devils in a London hotel before heading home the next day and then having a Headingley homecoming with fans on Monday.

However, Covid restrictions mean things have been far different this time around and not just because the game was played behind closed doors.

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“We stayed in the changing rooms for about an hour and a half, having a drink and having pictures taken,” said Agar.

“And then the Wembley people came and said ‘you’re going to have to go.’

“So three or four had showered but the rest said ‘let’s just get on the bus, in our kit’. So they got on the bus in their kit, boots, medals round their necks.

“We shared a beer together on the way back, with the players in their kit on the bus!”

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Rhinos took two buses so the squad and staff could maintain social-distancing rules.

Leeds's captain Luke Gale with head coach Richard Agar and the Lance Todd Trophy winning man of the match Richie Myler after their side defeated Salford in the Coral Challenge Cup final. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comLeeds's captain Luke Gale with head coach Richard Agar and the Lance Todd Trophy winning man of the match Richie Myler after their side defeated Salford in the Coral Challenge Cup final. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Leeds's captain Luke Gale with head coach Richard Agar and the Lance Todd Trophy winning man of the match Richie Myler after their side defeated Salford in the Coral Challenge Cup final. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Agar and assistant James Webster travelled on the players’ coach and he added: “We went to the services and had a McDonald’s.

“So they were all walking off in their boots and their kit and they took the Cup in with them.

“It was probably a bit surreal for the people at the services. We got home about 11pm and all the wives and girlfriends were waiting in the car park.

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“While it was very different, it was a brilliant three or four hours together. It was a wonderful, memorable occasion.

“We missed celebrating with our fans afterwards and having our friends and family there. We wanted to make it as memorable as we could.

“To get those boys together for those three or four hours, in the changing rooms and then the sanctity of the team bus, I think they will remember that bus journey and those celebrations all their lives.

“Despite it being different, it was very, very special.”

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