St.Helens R.F.C. can confirm that Sam Royle will be leaving the Club upon expiry of his contract at the end of the 2024 rugby league season.
A proud graduate of the Saints Academy, Royle is beloved by his teammates, coaches and staff, and he will be wished well for his next chapter come the end of our Super League 2024 campaign.
Joining the Red V from community club Thatto Heath Crusaders, Royle became a Scholarship player and progressed through our youth development programme into the Academy and then became a senior First Team player from the 2021 season. The forward made his official St.Helens debut away against Salford in September 2021.
Sam has led out our youth teams as captain and he has made the unique honour of being a captain for all of our teams (Scholarship, Academy, Reserves and First Team). It was during the 2022 Super League season when he skippered a young First Team Saints side away at Castleford.
To date the 24-year-old has played for our First Team on 28 occasions so far, and has frequently been named as the Red V’s 18th-man in the past couple of seasons, whilst continuing to be captain of Derek Hardman’s Reserves Saints.
During the 2024 season, he has six senior match appearances to his record, and against Castleford Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium in July he went over for his first Super League try for the Club.
In early September 2024, Royle led the team that won Reserves Championship with a Grand Final win over Wigan Warriors. It was a special moment for all involved with our Reserves setup, but especially for Royle who has served St.Helens with distinction and got to lift up the trophy.
Speaking to saintsrlfc.com, Sam Royle said: “I think everyone knows being part of this Club has meant a lot to me. From going to Knowsley Road as a kid watching, to being part of this team and playing with people that have been your heroes since being a kid, it’s been amazing. But it’s time for a new chapter.
“Getting the Reserves title was fantastic, but we can still get to Old Trafford and I’m going to be here for the next few weeks and will give it my everything. If that opportunity comes up for me, hopefully we go all the way, I’ll be ready to play my part.”
Talking more about that Reserves Championship title win, Royle spoke with pride about being captain of the team and getting that trophy in his hands.
“It was a great feeling and I think our group really deserved it, they’ve been through a lot this year. In Reserves teams sometimes you might not know who is going to play for you or who’s going to play against you, but this group’s really stuck together. That Grand Final was a really tough game, there were points where could have broke, but we didn’t and we stuck together and got through it.”
Head Coach Paul Wellens paid thanks to Royle commenting: “I know I speak for everyone involved in the First Team environment when I say that Sam is someone we can rely on and helps set our standards. Not only when he plays on the field, but in everything we as a team do, and he does his job so well.
“We wish Sam the very best of luck in his next chapter, and thank him for his efforts for our Club.”
