Bupa Dental Care teams up with Leeds Rhinos
Bupa Dental Care has been named as the official dental partner of Leeds Rhinos Rugby League club.
The partnership will promote oral health and wellbeing among players, the support team, and the local community and comes as new research shows 29% of UK adults do not know how poor oral health links to wider health conditions, with fewer than half confident in identifying more than one condition linked to poorer oral health.
Despite this, around 75% of adults who train or compete in sport agree that oral health can impact physical performance and recovery.
With a background in sports dentistry and supporting elite athletes, Dr Anni Seaborne, head of general dentistry for Bupa Dental Care, said: “While most professional athletes will have access to a multi-disciplinary health team – including physical care, mental health, and nutrition – oral health can sit on the sidelines.
“Elite sport is an effective platform to change that by raising awareness that a healthy mouth is fundamental to a healthy body – and that matters whether you’re competing at the highest level, playing at weekend or cheering from the stands.”
Through the partnership, Leeds Rhinos players will have access to dental care, oral health prevention and protection, and performance-friendly routines throughout the full Betfred Super League season, including pre‑ and post‑season periods. Practical education and guidance will also be available to help build long-term habits across the club.
This includes pre‑season oral health screenings to identify any issues that could affect everything from breathing to sleep, concentration and recovery – all of which are critical to performance at any level.
Players and the medical team will also benefit from on‑call support from local Bupa dentists and nurses for any dental concerns or injuries arising from training or match play.
Mark Allan, general manager for Bupa Dental Care, said: “We’re proud to partner with Leeds Rhinos to shine a light on the vital role oral health plays in overall wellbeing and sport as a whole.
“At Bupa Dental Care, we know a healthy mouth is key to a healthy body, and as the official dental partner, we have a unique opportunity to support players and encourage fans and the wider community to see oral care as an essential part of staying well.”
Leeds Rhinos’ sporting director, Ian Blease, added: “Peak performance is so much more than training hard – it’s about looking after every aspect of your health.
“Oral health is often overlooked, but it plays a huge role in recovery, energy levels, and overall wellbeing.
“Partnering with Bupa Dental Care means our players get access to quality dental support, and together we can help fans and young athletes understand why a healthy mouth matters both on and off the pitch.”
And Leeds Rhinos captain, Ash Handley, said: “As players, we spend a lot of time thinking about training, recovery, nutrition and mindset – but oral health isn’t always something you connect to performance.
“Working with Bupa Dental Care through this partnership has helped us understand how important it is to look after the whole body.”