Eastern Rhinos youngsters snapped up by London Broncos

Jonah Varela, Rob Oakley and Will Blakemore, who have all shone at the Colchester-based club, will link up with the Championship outfit for pre-season training next month, after signing professional deals.

Blakemore, whose preferred position is loose forward and Oakley, who has played as a half back but more recently converted to hooker, came through the junior ranks with Rhinos.

Outside back Varela, who previously played for Broncos' Academy, only started playing rugby when he was around 15 and has played for the Peruvian national team.

The news is testament to the hard work of not only the three young players but also Eastern Rhinos and the Sigma Sixth Sports Academy, where they have been studying and playing.

Rhinos head coach Peter Le Marquand said he is delighted that the three have been handed the opportunity of full-time rugby, with Broncos.

Le Marquand said: "All three of them have worked hard and now they've got the reward for it, so I'm really happy for them.

"They've all taken to it and done really, really well.

"They're all dedicated, so I knew they had a chance.

"It's very difficult to be a professional sportsman, so I knew they had a chance.

"Jonah and Rob were very good when they joined the Sigma Sixth Sports College as well as doing rugby in their spare time, with the purpose of going as far as they could in rugby.

"Jonah joined us and immediately started trying to go to as many trials as possible - he got spotted and the rest of history."

Le Marquand says Blackmore's rise to prominence in particular can serve as an inspiration for Rhinos' young players.

"He actually had an academy contract with London Broncos," said the Rhinos head coach.

"He got released as they didn't want to give him a full-time men's contract.

"He came back to play for the Rhinos for a year and I've told the guys his attendance in training is 98 to 100 per cent.

"He turns up for everything and works hard for everything.

"He's had a bit of adversity and a bit of rejection but kept working hard and now he's got the reward for it.

"Will had a part-time deal with Broncos last year.

"He was playing for their reserves and made his Challenge Cup debut against York, I think.

"He didn't have to be training with us but he did and helped out with kids and at the end of the session, he was running around picking up cones.

"He's committed and a good egg.

"Will came back and trained with us for a whole season and then got another chance (with Broncos) so it shows that we're doing something right.

"If we were way out of it and he'd trained with us for a year, he wouldn't have been picked up again.

"The fact that he did a whole season with us and they looked at him and said 'yes, we'll have you back' shows that we're doing the right things in training."