Callum McLelland

Callum McLelland (born 16 September 1999) is a former Scotland international rugby league footballer who last played as a scrum-half or stand-off for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

Cal McLelland
Personal information
Full nameCallum McLelland
Born (1999-09-16) 16 September 1999
Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 10 in (1.77 m)
Weight15 st 10 lb (100 kg)
PositionScrum-half, Stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–21 Leeds Rhinos 16 1 0 0 4
2019(loan) → Featherstone Rovers 12 4 0 0 16
2020(loan) → Featherstone Rovers 3 1 0 0 4
2022–23 Castleford Tigers 0 0 0 0 0
Total 31 6 0 0 24
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019– Scotland 2 3 0 0 12
Source: [1][2][3]

He previously played for the Leeds Rhinos in Super League, has spent time on loan from Leeds at Featherstone Rovers in the Betfred Championship.

Background

McLelland was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. He qualified to represent Scotland through his grandfather, born in East Ayrshire.[4]

McLelland attended Castleford Academy. He played his junior rugby league for his local team Castleford Lock Lane before being picked up by the Castleford Tigers academy.

After progressing through the Tigers academy system, in November 2017 McLelland left the club to cross codes and join Edinburgh Rugby Union.[5] This was through the Scottish Rugby Union's 'Scottish Qualified' scheme. McLelland said, "Lads in rugby league don’t get opportunities like this, to travel the world and represent your country constantly through the year. It’s a life-changer for my family to be able to live up in Edinburgh and I can really start to make a name for myself."[6]

Club career

Leeds Rhinos

In August 2018, after less than a year with Edinburgh Rugby Union, McLelland switched codes again and signed for the Leeds Rhinos on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[4][7][8]

On 12 April 2019, McLelland made his professional debut for Leeds against Workington Town in the Challenge Cup.[9] On 11 May, he scored his first try for Leeds against the Bradford Bulls in the following round of the cup.[10] He made his Super League debut on 16 May against the Castleford Tigers.[11]

McLelland made a further 13 appearances for Leeds, scoring 1 try, with his playtime severely restricted by injury.[12]

Featherstone Rovers (dual registration)

In June 2019, McLelland joined Championship side Featherstone Rovers through their dual registration arrangement with Leeds.[13] He made 12 appearances and scored 4 tries, appearing in every play-off game as Rovers eventually finished runners up in the Million Pound Game.[13]

McLelland continued to play for Featherstone at the beginning of the 2020 season, making a further 3 appearances and scoring 1 try.[3]

Castleford Tigers

On 11 October 2021, the Castleford Tigers announced that McLelland would re-join his hometown club on a two-year contract, with an option of a further two years.[14][15][16] McLelland was assigned the squad number 16 for the 2022 season,[17] although a patella tendon injury sustained while at Leeds persisted and prevented him from making an appearance.[12]

In March 2023, McLelland spoke of his desire to repay the club for their support during his injury rehabilitation.[18] However, in June, head physiotherapist Matt Crowther revealed that McLelland had unfortunately "suffered a further setback in his recovery".[19] On 21 June, Castleford confirmed that the two parties had come to an agreement on the early termination of his contract.[20][12] McLelland would depart the club with immediate effect, having not made a senior appearance, to pursue a new venture outside of the sport.[21][22]

Representative career

England rugby league

McLelland was named in England's elite under-15s squad in August 2015, captaining and scoring in the 52-12 victory against Wales under-16s at Taffs Well.[23]

McLelland captained the England Academy side in 2017.[6][7] He started at stand-off against France under-18s at Stade de la Méditerranée on 9 October, where he kicked the late winning drop goal, and at Stade Gilbert Brutus on 13 October, in a 1-1 series draw.[24]

Scotland rugby union

McLelland's move to Edinburgh Rugby Union through the 'Scottish Qualified' programme saw him play for the Scotland national under-20 rugby union team. He made his debut in the Under-20s Six Nations and also went on to play in the World Rugby Under-20s Championship,[8] making a total of 8 appearances.[4]

Return to England rugby league

In December 2018, following his return to rugby league, McLelland re-established his place in the England Academy side. He started at stand-off against the Australian Schoolboys at Leigh Sports Village on 8 December and at Headingley Stadium on 14 December, helping to secure a 2-0 series win for England Academy.[25][8]

Scotland rugby league

In October 2019, McLelland was named in Scotland's 22-man squad for the European qualifiers of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[26] On 26 October, he made his senior international debut and scored a try in Scotland's 86-0 victory over Serbia.[27] On 1 November, he scored 2 tries in Scotland's 42-24 victory over Greece, securing qualification for the 2021 World Cup.[28]

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. RL Record Keepers' Club
  4. Darbyshire, Drew (14 August 2018). "Leeds confirm signing of rising star Callum McLelland". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. "Edinburgh sign Callum McLelland from Castleford Tigers". Talking Rugby Union. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. Shaw, Matthew (8 December 2017). "England's Academy captain issues warning as he leaves for union". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. Shaw, Matthew (14 August 2018). "Leeds beat Cas to snap up McLelland". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  8. Walker, Gareth (21 February 2019). "Meet Callum McLelland, the code-hopping teen ready to make an impact at Leeds". The Mirror. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  9. "Challenge Cup: Leeds Rhinos 78-6 Workington Town". BBC Sport. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  10. Townsend, Joe (11 May 2019). "Challenge Cup: Bradford Bulls 24-22 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  11. "Super League: Castleford add to Leeds frustrations with crushing five-try 30-8 win". BBC Sport. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  12. "McLelland to leave Castleford". Total Rugby League. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  13. White, Alex; Shaw, Matthew (4 October 2019). "McLelland loving life at Featherstone as Grand Final beckons". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  14. "McLelland comes back to Cas". Castleford Tigers. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  15. "Callum McLelland: Castleford re-sign half-back". BBC Sport. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  16. "Callum McLelland explains reasons for Castleford return". Love Rugby League. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  17. "Tigers reveal 2022 squad numbers". Castleford Tigers. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  18. Darbyshire, Drew (2 March 2023). "Callum McLelland wants to repay Castleford faith after injury nightmare". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  19. "Tigers player and injury update". Castleford Tigers. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  20. "McLelland departs the Tigers". Castleford Tigers. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  21. McAllister, Josh (21 June 2023). "Castleford Tigers playmaker to 'start new venture outside of the sport' following injury nightmare". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  22. O'Brien, James (21 June 2023). "'I'm gutted': Callum McLelland calls time on Castleford Tigers career after injury hell". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  23. "England Youth ready to test themselves against Wales". The RFL. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015.
  24. "England Academy fall to late defeat in France". The RFL. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017.
  25. "England Academy 18 Australia Schoolboys 6: England youngsters provide proof future is in safe hands at Headingley". The Yorkshire Post. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  26. "Scotland name 22 man squad for World Cup qualifiers". Scotland Rugby League. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  27. "Scotland move closer to World Cup qualification with 86-0 win over Serbia". Love Rugby League. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  28. "World Cup Qualifier – Greece 24 v Scotland 42". Total Rugby League. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
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