Role: Head Physiotherapist / Head of Medical

Organisation: Leigh Leopards RLFC 

Salary: Dependant on experience

Location: Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Sale Way, Leigh, WN7 4JY 

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Full Time) 

Closing Date: 31 July 2026

Role Commencement Date: October 2026

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Leigh Leopards Rugby League Club as our Lead Physiotherapist and Head of Medical.

Leigh Leopards are one of the fastest-growing clubs in professional rugby league, having established themselves as a leading Super League organisation through sustained success across the men’s, women’s, reserve, academy and scholarship programmes. Since our promotion to Super League in 2023, the club has continued to invest in elite performance structures, player welfare and long-term development pathways. 

We are seeking an experienced, ambitious and innovative physiotherapist to lead and develop our medical services across the club. This is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, operational management and delivery of all medical and rehabilitation services, ensuring the highest standards of player care and performance support throughout the organisation. 

In addition to working within a high-performance environment, the role offers unique opportunities to travel internationally with the team for training camps and competitive fixtures, including involvement in the highly anticipated Las Vegas 2027 event.

The successful candidate will act as the clinical lead for the medical department, providing expert physiotherapy support to the First Team whilst overseeing the delivery of medical services across all performance pathways. Working closely with coaching, strength and conditioning, sports science and performance staff, the post-holder will play a pivotal role in optimising player availability, reducing injury burden and supporting elite performance outcomes.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead and manage the club’s medical department across First Team, Women’s, Reserves, Academy and Scholarship programmes.
• Provide expert physiotherapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for First Team players.
• Develop and implement evidence-based injury prevention, rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols.
• Oversee player welfare, clinical governance and medical risk management processes across the club.
• Manage, mentor and develop a multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, sports therapists and medical support staff.
• Work collaboratively with coaching, sports science and strength and conditioning teams to maximise player performance and availability.
• Coordinate specialist referrals, imaging, consultant input and external healthcare partnerships.
• Lead on medical planning for training, match days, travel and competition schedules.
• Ensure accurate clinical record keeping, data reporting and compliance with governing body requirements.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the club’s high-performance programme and long-term athlete development pathway.

About You

The successful candidate will be:

• An experienced Chartered Physiotherapist with significant experience within elite sport.
• HCPC registered and a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
• A proven leader with experience managing and developing multidisciplinary teams.
• Skilled in managing complex injuries and delivering high-quality rehabilitation programmes.
• Passionate about player welfare, performance optimisation and continuous improvement.
• An excellent communicator with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Comfortable working within a high-performance environment where flexibility, professionalism and innovation are essential.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead the medical provision of an ambitious Super League club, influencing performance across all levels of the organisation while contributing to the continued growth and success of Leigh Leopards.

Essential Criteria: 

• Experience in an elite sports environment (at least 3 years)
• BSc degree in Physiotherapy
• Valid HCPC and CSP registrations.
• Registered (with immediate effect) to work within the UK
• Valid UK driving license 
• Immediate Medical Management on the Field of Play (IMMOFP) qualification or equivalent desired.

Desirables:

• MSK Ultrasound skills for examination of muscles, tendons and joints.

How to apply: 

Applications should be sent to Andrew Henderson (Director of Rugby) 

[email protected]

Please include your CV with a short covering letter. Short listed candidates will be contacted shortly after the closing date to be invited for interview.

Leigh Leopards is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief or marital status.