AJ Towse

AJ Towse (born 19 August 2003) is a professional Rugby League player who plays in the wing position, for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred SuperLeague.^[3]

AJ Towse

Personal information
Full name	Alwyn Towse[1]
Born	(2003-08-19) 19 August 2003 (age 21) York, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	15 st 2 lb (96 kg)
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2021–24 York Knights 67 35 0 0 140 2021(loan) → Coventry Bears 2 1 0 0 4 2021(loan) → Rochdale Hornets 1 0 0 0 0 2024(DRTooltip dual registration) → Newcastle Thunder 2 0 0 0 0 2025– Leigh Leopards 0 0 0 0 0 Total 72 36 0 0 144
Source: [2] As of 16 October 2024

He formerly played for York RLFC and started his career at amateur Club Heworth ARLFC as a Junior. Later he represented the North-East Universities 2021 and played in the Universities Origin game^[4] for the North^[5] in the same year.

He is also a freelance Web Designer and has a degree in Computer Science from York St. John University.^[6]

Playing career

Towse was born in York and is a product of amateur club Heworth ARLFC,^[7] having played Rugby League from the age of 11 and latterly the York City Knights Excel Program, having represented them at U16's.^[8]

Having made his first Open-Age appearance in a pre-season friendly^[9] for York Knights vs Featherstone Rovers at the age of 16, he signed a 3 year contract for the seasons 2021 to 2023.^[10] He then went on to sign for a fourth year and the 2024 season^[11]

York City Knights 2021

Towse made his professional debut^[12] in April 2021 in York's defeat by Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup 3rd Round.

Later that year he made a second appearance in the Knights' September win over London Broncos.^[13]

Coventry Bears and Rochdale Hornets 2021 (on-loan)

During 2021 Towse made 2 loan appearances^[14] in May 2021 for Coventry Bears, scoring 1 try, and one loan appearance in August for Rochdale Hornets.

Leeds Rhinos Reserves 2022 (on-loan)

Towse made one appearance on loan for Leeds Rhinos Reserves vs Wigan, before being recalled to play for the Knights.^[15]

York City Knights 2022

2022 saw Towse appear 18 times for the Knights and scoring 8 tries.^[16]

He scored a brace in games against Newcastle Thunder,^[17] Whitehaven RLFC^[18] and London Broncos,^[19] but it was his acrobatic try against Batley Bulldogs live on Premier Sports that will be remembered most.

During the Rugby League World Cup, Towse also spent several days training with the New Zealand National team.^[20]

York Knights 2023

2023 saw Towse as the only ever-present player completing all 34 League and Cup games, scoring 20 tries in the process, including a hat-trick against London^[21] and helping the side reach the play-offs for the second successive year.

York Knights 2024

Towse signed a further contract ahead of the 2024 season, ending with 13 appearances and 7 tries^[22]

Leigh Leopards 2025

As announced in Oct 2024, Towse signed a 3 year contract to join the Leigh Leopards ahead of the 2025 season. ^[23][24]

Honours

2021 – North East Universities

2021 – Universities Origin final.^[25]

2022 – Rugby League Betfred Championship Young Player of the Year nomination.^[26]

2022 – York City Knights Young Player of the Year.

2022 – York City Knights Try of the Year.^[27]

2023 – York Sport Awards Student Sportsperson of the Year.^[28][29]

2023 – York Knights Supporters Society Player of the year.^[30]

2023 – York Knights Young Player of the Year

2023 – York Knights Top Try Scorer.^[31]

2023 – Rugby League Betfred Championship Young Player of the Year nomination.^[32]

Professional Career record

^[33]

Years	Team	Apps	Tries	Points
2021	York City Knights	2
2021	Coventry Bears (loan)	2	1	4
2021	Rochdale Hornets (loan)	1
2022	York City Knights	18	8	32
2023		34	20	80
2024	Newcastle Thunder	2
2024	York Knights	13	7	28
2025	Leigh Leopards
Total		72	36	144

References

1. "York City Knights: Featherstone salvage draw with late tries". The Press. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
2. "Player Summary: AJ Towse". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
3. "Knights Squad List". York RLFC. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
4. "Preview: University Rugby League Origin Game". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
5. "North continue University Rugby League Origin dominance". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
6. "YCK partnership". York St John University. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
7. Messenger, James (26 January 2020). "York sign young pair on community dual-registration deals". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
8. "York City Knights take five youngsters on one-month trials". York Press. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
9. "Rovers and Knights announce friendly squads". Rugby League News. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
10. "AJ Towse – Playing Career – Summary". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
11. "Top try-scorer AJ Towse has signed a new one-year deal with York Knights". YO1 Radio. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
12. "Wigan Warriors outclass York City Knights en route to quarter-finals". The Times. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
13. "Live Scores". www.loverugbyleague.com. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
14. "BEARS ADD AJ TOWSE". Coventry Bears. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
15. "Rhinos confirm loan signings in reserves squad to face Wigan at Stanningley on Friday". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
16. "Towse eager to build on breakthrough year at York Knights". York RLFC. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
17. "York City Knights up to third after 38–6 win over Newcastle". York Press. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
18. "Coach hails 'outstanding commitment' of winger AJ Towse". York Press. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
19. "York City Knights beat London Broncos 36–34 in a thriller". York Press. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
20. "Towse & Harrison train with the Kiwis!". York RLFC. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
21. "Knights win a thriller beating London 30–28 with AJ Towse grabbing a hat trick to help the grab 2 points – York Knights RLFC". YO1 Radio. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
22. media3035 (16 October 2023). "Top try-scorer Towse re-signs with the Knights". York RLFC. Retrieved 13 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
23. "Leopards Sign – AJ Towse!!! – Leigh Leopards". Retrieved 16 October 2024.
24. "Leigh sign Towse from York for 2025". BBC Sport. 16 October 2024.
25. "York City Knights' AJ Towse to feature in University Origin". York Press. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
26. "York City Knights youngster AJ Towse shortlisted for young player of the year". York Press. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
27. "Jordan Thompson and Tara-Jane Stanley win player of the year awards for Knights". York Press. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
28. "York's sporting heroes celebrated at top awards ceremony". York Press. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
29. "Home". York Sports Awards. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
30. "York Knights ace has 'improved massively' after being named KSS Player of the Year". York Press. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
31. "York Knights' top-scorer signs new one-year deal to remain at club". York Press. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
32. "York Knights head coach and star nominated for Championship awards". York Press. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
33. "AJ TOWSE – Player statistics – It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2022.