Kieran Hudson: John Holmes' grandson joins Leeds Rhinos from Castleford Tigers

Kieran Hudson did not make a senior appearance for Castleford

Leeds Rhinos have signed prop Kieran Hudson on a one-year contract from Castleford Tigers.

Hudson, 23, did not make a Super League appearance for Castleford, after suffering an Achilles injury that ruled him out of the entire 2023 season.

But he has been snapped up by Leeds, where his grandfather, John Holmes, is the club's record appearance-maker.

The 6ft 5in forward is the seventh player brought to Headingley ahead of the 2024 season.

Sunderland-born Hudson played football as a goalkeeper for his hometown club until he was 16. But since then, he has played rugby league in the Championship for Newcastle Thunder and Whitehaven.

Grandfather Holmes, who passed away in 2009, played 625 times for Leeds over more than two decades before he retired in 2009.

"I am excited to be at the Rhinos. The club is a big part of my family and it is great to have finally signed," Hudson told the club's website.

"Growing up in Sunderland we probably never really appreciated how massive John had been here at Leeds, but we always knew about it in the background.

"I always remember asking him about whether he would take us to a game and he always joked that he couldn't go before he would be too tempted to pull his boots on again!"