BARROW Island welcomed back one of their best rugby league products Super League giants Leeds Rhinos rumbled into town for a two-day training camp.

Rhinos Foundation staff were joined by first-team prop Brad Singleton – as well as former Leeds and Great Britain ace Chev Walker – as they looked to help the next generation.

Action was all over the park at Ostley Bank, as more than 40 children from across the age groups joined in the fun.

Singleton found himself deeply involved, taking part in games and drills, and said: “Going back to my home club is always good to do. It's the last club I had before I signed on for Leeds, and it's always going to be special place for me to go.

“It was nice to see all the lads enjoying themselves and to promote rugby league in the area.

“It’s good to be giving something back to the club that I used to play for.”

Rhinos Foundation are running a competition throughout the summer at all their training camps, with youngsters passing a rugby ball through hoops with different scores on them.

After the camps have finished, the children who have scored the most points will receive a signed Leeds ball. Singleton tried it for himself, scoring 40 points, but and found several of the children bettered him.

“A few of the lads beat me at passing when you had to throw the ball through a hole,” he admitted. “I'll tip a few of them on to the scouts!”

The 43 young players were split into three groups and took part in the different activities.

In the kicking game, children had to boot a rugby ball into a tyre, with many of them going close but just not close enough.

The agility challenge – a favourite among the participants – was set up by Walker, and involved the children running in pairs along a course designed to test their speed and ability to weave through poles.

Some flew around the course and would probably have challenged Kallum Watkins.

Walker, who returned to Leeds from Bradford in March, said: “The day was good. We tried to ease the kids in. The group was very excited and they all seemed to be enjoying it.

“The game teaches you discipline, but also allows you to make friends for life from all parts of the country.”

As well as the coaching, the children had the chance to ask Singleton questions and were presented with a Leeds Rhinos t-shirt for taking part.

Singleton, who was signed up to Leeds on full-time basis from Island when he was 16, firmly believes such days as these can help promote sport in an area he sees an an untapped hotbed of talent in numerous activities.

The big prop, who had made more than 120 appearances for the Rhinos, said: “There was a buzz around the place. All the lads looked very stimulated with the Leeds Foundation lads there.

“Being up in Barrow, you can be slightly neglected at the top end of sport – the likes of Super League and Premiership football – and it's such a shame, because I think it could be a hotbed for all sports. I know myself, all the talented lads I went through the ranks with, and all the talented footballers who just miss out.

“It's such a shame, so the more people like us who can go up there, the better for the area.”

Many of the youngsters at the camp will hope to one day follow in his footsteps.