Leeds Rhinos Women have confirmed the signings of Jasmine Earnshaw-Cudjoe and Emma Lumley from Castleford Tigers as the club continue their preparations for the 2022 Betfred Women's Super League season.
Earnshaw-Cudjoe, 22, who can play hooker or in the halves joined the Tigers when they formed in 2016 after starting her playing career with Lindley Swifts and Brighouse Rangers.
The Huddersfield-born player featured in two Challenge Cup Finals and a Grand Final with the Tigers and has been a regular in the side for the last five years.
Speaking about joining the club, she said: "I am really excited to be joining the Rhinos. We have already started doing some sessions and the facilities are amazing, all the players have been really welcoming from the get go and been I'm excited to get on with it and ready for the season to start.
"Lois Forsell was a big influence in me joining the club, I know her and I have worked with her before and I think she is an amazing coach. Seeing how well the team has done over the years it was just somewhere I wanted to be."
Emma Lumley, 30, began her playing career in rugby union with Wasps before switching codes to join Castleford Tigers in 2017.
The London-born prop also played in the Tigers side who took on the Rhinos in two Challenge Cup Finals and a Grand Final, and this year was called into the England Performance Unit.
Commenting on signing for the Rhinos, Lumley said: "I am buzzing to be joining the club, it's going to be a good season ahead. I'm just really glad that Lois has given me this opportunity.
“I live ten minutes up the road from Headingley so it's an easier commute and coming into a World Cup year this move felt like a good fresh sheet for me.
"I want to perform well and hone down on my position as prop and learn some specifics off Lois and her team and play alongside a different set of girls and achieve.
“There are a few familiar faces in the squad for me, which makes it more comfortable to start with and get going. Pre-season is going well, it's relaxed at the moment and just getting our bodies back into it."
Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell said: "I am delighted to bring Jasmine and Emma to the Rhinos. They are two quality additions to our side and again this shows our intentions for next season.
"Jasmine brings great utility to the squad, I know that she can play at hooker and in the halves. She is a very passionate player and you can tell that she looks at the game and understands it well. So we are looking to add value in that department in making sure we have plenty of depth in our halves and our hookers.
"Emma brings strength in depth to our forwards. Finishing last season we were struggling with our pack a little bit, we had a few players out injured.
"We have some coming back from long term injuries but it's an area where you need some leadership and some seniority. With Danika retiring this year we lose a lot of leadership in that area and a great communicator and someone who led with their actions so we are looking at bringing Emma in to be that player who has got a senior head on her shoulders and will do really well for us in the middle of the park."
