LEEDS RHINOS got some national exposure on BBC television over the weekend when backrower Ella Donnelly appeared on Saturday night’s edition of Gladiators.

Donnelly, who is also a serving doctor in the Armed Forces, took part in a number of battles of speed, strength and endurance against the Gladiators and beat fellow contestant Ciara to progress to the quarter-finals of the contest. 

Along the way Donnelly, who earlier this year was called into the England National Performance squad for the first time, picked up a record individual score on the game Collision.

Filming for the show took place last year, with camera crews present at a Leeds Rhinos training session to catch Donnelly in action on the field.

“They came down to do a bit of filming at the club and I think the cameras got in the way of training a bit,” said 29-year-old Donnelly.

“The cameraman told me that Lois (Forsell – coach) was formidable. They were trying to shots but we were trying to train, but it was really good. 

“Some of the girls and Lois came along to support me in the arena, and it was really nice having them there.”

It is not the first time this year that Rugby League has appeared on the show, with former Wigan St Judes player Tyler Spence, who was part of England’s under-23s nine-a-side Rugby League team at the 2018 Commonwealth Championships in Australia, taking part in the previous weekend’s episode and also progressing to the next round.

The show, fronted by father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer.