Game Preview: v Sheffield Giants

Tue Jun 02 2026

Yorkshire Academy Rams vs Sheffield Giants

7 June 2026, 2:00pm

West Leeds RUFC, Leeds

Rams v Giants

Latest results:

One To Watch

#84 Iago Castro Charlon

#84 Iago Castro Charlon

Few players on the Rams roster will be more motivated this Sunday than wide receiver Iago Castro Charlon. The former Giant made the move across Yorkshire ahead of the 2025 season and enjoyed a debut campaign to remember, featuring in two emphatic victories over his old club.

Those two meetings — a 42-0 shutout in Sheffield and a 49-6 win at West Leeds — could hardly have gone better for him, and he will be eager to continue that run against familiar faces.

Expect the wide receiver to bring an extra edge as he looks to make another statement against his former team.

One To Watch

#2 Anthony Marsden

#2 Anthony Marsden

A familiar name to Rams supporters, Anthony Marsden swapped Leeds for Sheffield in 2015 and has since established himself as one of the Giants' most influential defensive players. The former Ram earned the Defensive MVP award in the Giants' win over the Clyde Valley Blackhawks earlier this season and remains a consistent threat on that side of the ball.

Marsden will relish the chance to line up against some of his former teammates at West Leeds, and limiting his impact will be high on the Rams offence's to-do list on Sunday afternoon.

Image from Sheffield Giants’ social media

Last 5 meetings:

  • 20 July 2025: RAMS 49 - 6 Sheffield Giants
  • 29 June 2025: Sheffield Giants 0 - 42 RAMS
  • 23 June 2024: RAMS 0 - 1 Sheffield Giants (Forfeit - ineligible player)
  • 02 June 2024: Sheffield Giants 0 - 20 RAMS
  • 26 September 2021: RAMS 36 - 35 Sheffield Giants

For all previous meetings, click here.

Summary

The Rams welcome the Sheffield Giants to West Leeds RUFC for the first of two meetings this season between the Yorkshire rivals. With Yorkshire sitting second in the NFC 1 North on a 4-1 record, a win would keep the pressure on the unbeaten Newcastle Vikings at the top of the division and strengthen their position heading towards the end of the regular season campaign.

The Rams arrive in strong form, having won three on the bounce since their only defeat of the season at Newcastle back in week two. Last Sunday’s 47-0 shutout of the Chester Romans was the latest in a run of dominant displays, with the offence firing on all cylinders and the team conceding just 7 points across the last three games. The squad depth on show against Chester will give the coaching staff plenty of options as the schedule intensifies.

The Giants have found the going tougher so far, sitting at 1-3 after a 35-0 defeat on the road at Newcastle last Sunday. Their sole win came against the Clyde Valley Blackhawks, but Sheffield will take confidence from the knowledge that these local derbies have been tightly contested in the past — the 2021 meeting at John Charles Stadium finished 36-35 in the Rams’ favour in a game that went down to the wire, although the Giants were a Premiership team at that time.

With local pride on the line and former players set to face their old clubs, all eyes will be on West Leeds to see whether the Giants can spring a surprise or the Rams can make it four in a row.