London Broncos x Huddersfield Giants- Who has played for both?
Luke Yates
Luke Yates is an Australian Loose forward/prop who is currently playing his rugby at Warrington Wolves, on loan from Huddersfield Giants.
Yates began his senior playing career in the Newcastle Knights Reserves squad, between 2015-2018. Following on from this spell, Yates made the move to the UK and signed with the Broncos, where he spent the 2019 season. In this season Yates made 28 appearances, scoring 2 try’s.
Heading in to the 2020 season, Yates joined Salford Red Devils where he stayed for the season, making 19 appearances, and scoring 3 tries. In the 2021 season, Yates made the move to the club which he is most well-known for representing- Huddersfield Giants. Yates stayed at the club for three seasons, between 2021-2024, where he made 89 appearances and scored 14 try’s.
This season, Yates has made a season long loan move to Warrington Wolves and has signed with the Wolves on a permanent basis from the 2025 season.
Tony Kinsey
Tony Kinsey is a London legend. Kinsey was a part of the first ever Fulham RLFC squad assembled in 1980 and stayed at the club for 6 seasons (1980-1986).
Kinsey is the Broncos joint tenth overall highest appearance maker with 156 appearances and must be one of the most versatile players in the club’s history as, despite predominantly being a lock forward, also represented the club as a second row, hooker, halfback, five-eighth, centre & winger. Kinsey scored 18 try’s as a Fulham RLFC player & boasted a winning record with the club throughout his time in London (156 games played- 78W-73L-5D).
After his time was up in London, Kinsey made the move North to Huddersfield where he only stayed for a year, making 3 appearances. Kinsey ended his career in 1988 at Swinton where he stayed for a year, making 4 appearances.
Chris Thorman
Chris Thorman is an English halfback who is currently the head coach of Newcastle Thunder Rugby League who are competing in League 1.
Thorman began his playing career in 1999 at Sheffield. Thorman spent the season in Sheffield, making 19 appearances, scoring 2 try’s and kicking 8 goals. After impressing in his debut season Thorman made the move to Huddersfield Sheffield in 2000.
In Thorman’s first stint in Huddersfield Sheffield/Huddersfield between 2000-2002 he was a regular starter, playing 80 games, scoring 29 try’s and kicking 58 goals, generating 234 points for his team.
In 2003, Thorman decided to make the switch South, joining the Broncos for the season where he impressed once more in a different environment making 29 appearances, scoring 8 try’s and kicking 81 goals.
In 2005, Thorman returned to Huddersfield for the second stint of his career. After his year away from Huddersfield, Thorman slotted straight back into the starting line up and over the course of the 4 seasons which he returned (2005-2008) he made 100 appearances, scored 41 try’s and kicked 329 goals, generating 829 points.
After finishing his second stint at Huddersfield in 2008, Thorman spent the 2009 season at Hull FC & closed his playing career off by spending three seasons at York City (2010-2012).
Over the course of both spells at Huddersfield, Thorman made over 180 appearances, scoring 70 try’s, kicking 387 goals & scoring 1063 points.
Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee is an English hooker who played between 2005-2019. Lee’s senior career began in 2005 at Hull FC where he spent 5 seasons until he made the move to Crusaders RL for the 2010 season. During this time Lee impressed, making 78 appearances and scoring 6 try’s.
After spending a season at Crusaders (2010) & Wakefield Trinity (2011), Lee made the switch to Huddersfield, where he spent the 2012 season. Lee made 18 appearances & scored 3 try’s for Huddersfield before joining London the next season, in 2013. Whilst at London, Lee made 24 appearances and scored 2 try’s.
Following on from the season in London, Lee moved to Salford where he spent 3 years (2014-16) before joining St Helens in 2017 and Hull KR (2018-19) where he finished off his career.
Ikram Butt
Ikram Butt is the first British Asian Rugby Player to represent England and the winger received his heritage number in our half time display this past Sunday where we took on Leeds Rhinos.
Butt began his senior playing career at Leeds Rhinos (1989-90) where he spent the season before joining Featherstone Rovers where he particularly made a name for himself. Butt spent 5 seasons in Featherstone where he made 165 appearances for the club & scoring 65 try’s, generating 260 points for his team.
After his highly successful spell in Featherstone, Butt made the switch South to London for two seasons (1995-96). Whilst playing for the Broncos, Butt made 22 appearances & scored 4 try’s.
After departing the Broncos, Butt signed for Huddersfield, where he spent the 1997 season making 6 appearances and scoring 4 try’s.
Butt finished his playing career off in 1998 at Hunslet.
Other players to note who have played for both London Broncos & Huddersfield Giants are David King, Chris Bailey, Scott Moore & Fenton Rogers.
