Wales under 16 Rugby League international Ollie Olds has been snapped up by Super League outfit Leeds Rhinos.

Olds, from Bridgend, started playing Rugby League at age 12 when in Year 7 at Brynteg School, and has been given a six week trial by the Rhinos.

While at Brynteg he was in the same team as Warrington’s Rhys and Ben Evans, and while there he celebrated his first year in the game by scoring one try and creating another as he helped his school to a 40-4 Champions Schools Final win over Castleford High at the Millennium Stadium in 2005.

Since then he has worked his way through the Wales Rugby League academy system based in South Wales playing for Crusaders at Scholarship under 16 and Academy under 18 level.

But it’s this year in the Academy side’s most successful season to date where the 18-year old has been a stand-out and was targeted by Leeds Rhinos as a result.

“We’re immensely proud of Ollie for getting this opportunity with the Rhinos,” said Dan Clements, the Head of Performance for Wales Rugby League. “Leeds Rhinos are recognised as having one of the finest Academy systems in the country and we know that if he has a successful trial, he will continue to develop well as a player”

“Leeds Rhinos have a long history of fielding Welsh players from Lewis Jones, Phil Ford, Hefin O’Hare, and of course Iestyn Harris. It would be marvellous if, given time, Ollie will be next on the list and it will help his development if he is to push for a place in the Wales team in the 2013 England and Wales World Cup and beyond.”

Old’s signing is further evidence of the talent that is coming through the conveyor belt in Wales and following this season’s successes to date at junior levels, he is not expected to be the last.

Crusaders Academy play their next game this Saturday when they host Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Caerphilly RFC (kick-off 2.30pm). Admission is just £3 for adults, £1 concessions.