--- title: Rhinos legend Kylie Leuluai now helping men tackle mental fitness description: Former Leeds Rhinos star Kylie Leuluai is leading Rugby League Cares' Mental Fitness Programme for men in Blackburn with Darwen image: https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/ES026317.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness#main-content) [Skip to content](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness#main-content) MENU - [Home](https://rugbyleaguecares.org) - [Latest News](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog) - [About us](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/about-us) - [Community](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/community) - [Blackburn with Darwen](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/bwd) - [Get Involved](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-involved) - [RLCares Membership](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/membership) - [Players](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/players) - [Seriously Injured Players Fund](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/benevolent-fund) - [Contact](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/contact) ADDITIONAL LINKS - [Donate](https://www.justgiving.com/charity/rugbyleaguecares) - [Become a RLCares Member](https://secure.emandates.co.uk/Pages/Registration.aspx?.Client=174727dc-753e-4383-8ffe-c20cf2241cbb&.PaymentPlans=2b374003-6249-430d-b255-bf31124f8b19) - [Merchandise](https://www.eliteprosports.co.uk/rl-cares/) - [GET HELP NOW](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-help-now) Rugby League Cares MENU [![](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20Grey.png)](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) # Rhinos legend Kylie Leuluai now helping men tackle mental fitness May 14, 2026, 5:46:51 AM [Rugby League Cares](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/author/rugby-league-cares) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness)     Nobody enjoyed being tackled by Kylie Leuluai in his Leeds Rhinos pomp. In more than 250 appearances spread over nine seasons from 2007-15, the softly-spoken New Zealander became one of the most respected forwards in the Super League competition, a mainstay of six Grand Final wins at Old Trafford, as well as two World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups. Since retirement, the 48-year-old father of three has established himself in a very different field – which is why on the Tuesday evening of Mental Health Awareness Week, he was in the Lancashire mill town of Darwen, leading two sessions in the Men’s Mental Fitness Programme delivered by Rugby League Cares. “I’d been involved with wellbeing at Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos for ten years,” Kylie explained. “Then I got into counselling three years ago. I studied at Manchester College, and really enjoyed my time learning the counselling, learning the skill. And then I had the opportunity to come on board with Rugby League Cares in November last year. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here, presenting and learning as well - not just from the presentations but from the groups I’ve worked with. “It’s about growth, development, confidence, self-belief, self-esteem, understanding your values, because values shape your behaviours and the way you act and react to certain situations. There’s nothing better than learning from someone who’s experienced the challenges.” Kylie is a key part of the Rugby League Cares team who are delivering the programme to men in Blackburn and Darwen in a partnership with the Borough Council. It’s a six-week initial programme, with the Darwen sessions every Tuesday from 630pm at the Heritage Centre, and the focus switching to the Central Library in Blackburn on Wednesday evenings. For full details and to sign up, click here [RLCares | Blackburn with Darwen](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/bwd)   [Wellbeing](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/wellbeing), [blog](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog), [Blackburn with Darwen](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blackburn-with-darwen), [Kylie Leuluai](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/kylie-leuluai) ## **Our Partners** ![EHU New MHSPA Black Logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/EHU%20New%20MHSPA%20Black%20Logo.png) ![JUL 2019 Mattioli Woods Stacked Logo NO PLC RGB (1)-1-1](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/JUL%202019%20Mattioli%20Woods%20Stacked%20Logo%20NO%20PLC%20RGB%20(1)-1-1.png) ![Howorth Air Tech Logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Howorth%20Air%20Tech%20Logo.png) ![bartlet](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/bartlet.png) ![logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/logo.png) ![UCEN\_Logo\_CMYK](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/UCEN_Logo_CMYK.png) ![all sport](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Untitled-1.webp) ![oxen-2024-black-copy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/oxen-2024-black-copy.png) ![Movember\_Primary Logo\_White copy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Movember_Primary%20Logo_White%20copy.png) ![images](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/images.png) ![Caffe Nero B&W1](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Caffe%20Nero%20B%26W1.png) ![exp-atol-logos-stacked](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/exp-atol-logos-stacked.png) [![RL Cares White Text\_White Outline](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png?width=175&height=69&name=RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png "RL Cares White Text_White Outline")](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) [![RL Cares White Text\_White Outline](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png?width=175&height=69&name=RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png "RL Cares White Text_White Outline")](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) Rugby League Cares is an independent charity that touches upon the lives of people involved at every level of rugby league.    [info@rlcares.org.uk](mailto:info@rlcares.org)   Rugby League Cares is a registered charity in England and Wales (1109858) ![fundraising-regulator12](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/fundraising-regulator12.png?width=175&height=54&name=fundraising-regulator12.png) ![fundraising-regulator12](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/fundraising-regulator12.png?width=175&height=54&name=fundraising-regulator12.png "fundraising-regulator12") **MAIN MENU** - [Home](https://rugbyleaguecares.org) - [Latest News](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog) - [About us](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/about-us) - [Community](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/community) - [Get Involved](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-involved) - [Players](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/players) - [Seriously Injured Players Fund](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/benevolent-fund) - [Contact](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/contact) **ADDITONAL LINKS** - [Donate](https://www.justgiving.com/page/rlcares-brain-health-fund) - Merchandise - [GET HELP NOW](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-help-now) **KEEP IN TOUCH** Want to keep up to date on all things RL Cares? Sign up to our newsletter. © Copyright 2026, Rugby League Cares. |  [Privacy Policy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/RLC%20GDPR%20Policy.pdf) Website designed by:[**Xtra Mile Marketing**](https://www.xtramilemarketing.co.uk/) © Copyright 2026, Rugby League Cares Website designed by:[**Xtra Mile Marketing**](https://www.xtramilemarketing.co.uk/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rugby League Cares", "url" : "https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/author/rugby-league-cares" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-14T10:32:54.623Z", "datePublished" : "2026-05-14T09:46:51.000Z", "headline" : "Rhinos legend Kylie Leuluai now helping men tackle mental fitness", "image" : [ "https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/ES026317.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/rhinos-legend-kylie-leuluai-now-helping-men-tackle-mental-fitness", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" } } } ```