BRADFORD lad Jack Ormondroyd has spoken of his delight after joining Super League giants Leeds Rhinos on a three-year deal.

The boyhood Bulls fan from East Bierley has made the switch from Championship part-times Featherstone Rovers to join the Rhinos on a full-time deal.

That will require him to leave his job as a community coaching role at Bradford City, where he currently works alongside his dad and former Bantams legend Ian Ormondroyd.

Ormondroyd, an imposing prop or loose forward who stands 6ft 5in, played his amateur rugby at Drighlington and is rated as one of the best prospects outside of Super League.

He was part of the Featherstone side who beat Bradford 20-0 on the final day of the regular season to seal a place in the Qualifiers at the Bulls’ expense.

The 24-year-old said: “I'm massively looking forward to joining the Rhinos. 

“It will be the first time I have been part of a full-time environment and I think that will be really good for me and will help me develop. 

“I have spoken with Brian McDermott and Jason Davidson and it will be great to work with them.

“Having the opportunity to work with a full-time conditioner is something I am really excited about.

“I currently work full-time as community coach with Bradford City so I will have to end that to concentrate on my training.

“I've played alongside Jordan Baldwinson, Anthony Mullally and Ashton Golding at Featherstone this year and they've all said how much I will enjoy it at Leeds and how good the set-up is.

“There have been a few examples in recent years of lads who have made the step up from the Championship to Super League and it gives players like me hope.

“I was a bit of a latecomer to the game and I started playing when I was 16 as I had previously played football as my dad was a professional footballer and so that was the background I came from.”

Ormondroyd spoke earlier this year of his desire to emulate his father’s sporting success in football by making the grade at the highest level in rugby league.

He added: “Since I have been playing rugby league my family have all been supportive and my dad loves it and comes to watch all my games.

“I am from East Bierley and supported Bradford Bulls growing up and used to watch their big derby games against Leeds. 

“My first club was Drighlington and all the players there looked up to Leeds as they were the local team and were so successful, so it is great that I will be training alongside the Rhinos now.”

Ormondroyd made his Featherstone debut back in 2013 but established himself this season with 20 appearances for Jon Sharp's team.

Rhinos boss Brian McDermott has tipped Ormondroyd to prosper at Headingley and revealed he could still play for Rovers next season as part of the dual-registration agreement between the clubs.

McDermott said: “Jack is a player who has impressed us this season and who has potential.

“It will be good to see him in our environment and see how he develops.

“We will be continuing our dual registration arrangement with Featherstone next season and that will allow Jack to continue his develop in games as well.”