Few people can say that they have had the privilege of playing for the club they support as well as representing their country, but, Aaron Levy told VAVEL.com he's already accomplished both.
His impressive early career places him as one of England's young prospects in the world of Rugby League and is certainly someone to keep an eye on, as he continues to make his mark on the sport.
Early Opportunities
For Levy, sport has been a way of life with the passion and love of the game being ingrained into him at a young age: "I would say it really came through from my father who encouraged me to play," he said.
With his father coaching him, Levy got involved with the game straight away, playing for local Bradford clubs, whilst it didn't take long before playing became more about just having fun.
The Bradford born university student quickly made a name for himself in his home city, gaining the attention of his boyhood club, signing a scholarship deal with the Bradford Bulls.
Unfortunately for Levy, his time with the former Super League club coincided with Bradford's fall from grace as they entered administration: "They were simply unable to offer contracts at my time of release," said Levy.
However, despite the setback he looks back at his time with Bradford with great fondness: "I feel my time at the Bulls really provided the foundation for the player I am today," and that is all it proved to be, a setback.
Landing on his feet
Luckily for Levy, he had impressed during his two years with the Bulls, and landed on his feet after being released, gaining a reserve team contract with Keighley Cougars, providing another opportunity for him to continue his career.
Due to his decision to focus on studying, Levy brought his time with Cougars to an end, until next summer, as he made the move to Newcastle, to begin the first steps of a career in Law.
Now studying Law at Newcastle University, the promising youngster is a regular feature in the University Rugby team, which has provided him with a platform to aid his development, and a scholarship for sport worth £500.
He also gains a: "Free gym membership, priority access to the strength and conditioning suite with qualified coaching, as well as free physiotherapy and massage appointments," all of which helps his Rugby career.
Tour of a lifetime
His University coach also put him forward for what Levy claims to be: "The greatest achievement of my career" when he was elected to represent the GB Pioneers on the 2015 tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The tour selects a group of young Rugby players from across the country who are not only highly skilled but also have a background in giving back to the sport, something that Levy did during his time in Bradford.
"The essence of the trip was not only about playing rugby but also to help develop the sport in the area whilst helping to contribute to the community," he said, and playing in different conditions, alongside fellow Rugby stars can only have helped his ability to grow.
One of the tours main aims is to start the development of Rugby League in minority countries: "We spent multiple days coaching and teaching young kids in the area," Levy said.
In terms of on the field play, the tour was a resounding success, with the squad returning home undefeated and to put the icing on the cake, Levy was awarded Pioneer of the tournament by his coaches, a testament to his hard work and ability, to stand out above a squad of highly talented young athletes.
Moving forward, Levy has now set his eyes on a new target: "I am hoping to make it into the North Universities select side and then further into the England Students squad this year," he said.
Having already captained the North East student team in the regional competition and with a return to the Cougars set at the end of the academic year, the future is certainly looking bright.