Key Points
- Leeds Rhinos have completed the signing of France international prop Hugo Salabio on a one-year contract.
- Salabio, aged 26, joins the club following his departure from Super League rivals Hull FC at the end of the season.
- During his two-year stint at Hull FC, Salabio made 18 appearances across all competitions.
- Full-back Fergus McCormack has committed his long-term future to Headingley by signing a new three-year contract extension.
- The 20-year-old back made his senior debut for the Rhinos in February during a Challenge Cup fixture against Widnes.
- McCormack broke into the first team during the regular season with three Super League appearances across May and June.
- Injury problems within the squad provided McCormack the opportunity to start at full-back in last month’s play-off semi-final defeat to Warrington Wolves.
LEEDS (The Leeds Times) October 20, 2026 – Leeds Rhinos have made a significant double statement of intent regarding their squad construction by securing the signing of French international prop Hugo Salabio on a one-year deal alongside tying down promising young full-back Fergus McCormack to a new three-year contract extension.
The acquisition of Salabio brings reinforced size and forward pack depth to Headingley ahead of the upcoming campaign. The 26-year-old front-rower becomes available after departing fellow Super League side Hull FC upon the conclusion of the season. During his two-year tenure with the East Yorkshire outfit, Salabio recorded 18 top-flight appearances, establishing himself as a reliable physical presence in the middle unit.
Speaking via the official Leeds Rhinos club website, Salabio expressed his delight at securing the move to West Yorkshire, stating that
“Leeds is a massive club with a great history, and I’ve always admired the team and the supporters.”
Simultaneously, the club has acted decisively to secure the long-term future of one of their brightest homegrown talents. Twenty-year-old full-back Fergus McCormack has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal, binding him to Headingley as he continues his transition into regular senior rugby league.
McCormack’s ascent into the first-team environment has been swift over the course of the current year. The youngster handed in his senior debut for the Rhinos back in February during a Challenge Cup tie against Widnes. Following that milestone, he went on to gain further valuable experience by making three Super League appearances across May and June.
His breakthrough culminated on the postseason stage last month, where a series of injury setbacks to senior squad members handed McCormack the starting full-back spot in Leeds Rhinos’ high-stakes play-off semi-final clash against Warrington Wolves.
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What Is the Background to These Player Movements at Headingley?
The arrival of Hugo Salabio marks another step in Leeds Rhinos’ effort to rebuild and solidify their forward pack options following recent squad rotations and roster adjustments. Salabio first came to prominence in French rugby league circles before moving to England to test himself in the Super League environment with Hull FC. His period in East Yorkshire provided him with consistent exposure to top-tier opposition, though his tenure concluded at the end of the current campaign, paving the way for Leeds to step in and secure his services on a short-term contract to prove his value.
On the other hand, the three-year extension for Fergus McCormack highlights the ongoing commitment of Leeds Rhinos to developing talent through their academy setup. McCormack’s trajectory in 2024 has demonstrated the path from pathway development to first-team exposure.
Thrust into action early in the year against Widnes in the Challenge Cup, he handled the transition well before receiving mid-season minutes in the Super League. When injury problems thinned out Leeds’ backline options during the most critical phase of the year, McCormack was entrusted with starting duty in the play-off semi-final against Warrington, gaining crucial postseason experience despite the team ultimately falling short of the Grand Final.
How Will These Developments Affect Leeds Rhinos Supporters and the First-Team Squad?
These two roster updates directly impact both the short-term squad depth and long-term stability for Leeds Rhinos, offering clear indications of the club’s roster strategy to supporters and staff alike.
For the supporters, the signing of Hugo Salabio provides immediate reinforcement to a forward unit that requires physical rotations throughout a demanding Super League calendar. A one-year deal represents a measured risk for the club, allowing Salabio the platform to stake a claim for a longer stay while giving the coaching staff an experienced, international-level option in the front row without long-term financial commitments.
For the first-team squad and coaching staff, locking down Fergus McCormack on a three-year contract safeguards a valuable asset at full-back. Having already demonstrated he can perform under pressure during high-stakes games—such as a play-off semi-final—McCormack’s extension creates healthy competition for places in the backline. It signals to other young players within the Rhinos’ development system that genuine pathways to senior first-team rugby exist and will be rewarded with long-term security.
