World Champions on Call: Insights from Carl Frampton & Kruise Leeming
At LLS, we pride ourselves on giving our students access to the very best in the industry. Recently, we were privileged to host an exclusive Q&A with two of our incredible ambassadors: two-weight world champion boxer Carl Frampton and Super League star Kruise Leeming.
Both world champion athletes have been hands-on with the LLS community lately—Carl recently inspired students at St Ronan’s in Lurgan with a taster boxing session, while Kruise visited our Brighouse centre and Brighouse High School to share his journey.
Respect for the Craft
The session kicked off with an icebreaker about mutual respect. Carl admitted that while Northern Ireland is a Rugby Union stronghold, he’s a massive fan of Rugby League—though he joked he might be “too small” to survive on the pitch! Kruise shared how the two worlds often collide, noting that rugby players frequently turn to boxing training to maintain upper-body fitness when recovering from lower-body injuries.
It Takes a Village
Success isn’t a solo journey. The pair discussed the “team behind the team,” with Carl highlighting the vital roles of coaches, nutritionists, and the ever-growing importance of social media management. Kruise added a layer of modern sports science, explaining how analysts are essential in Rugby League, spending hours dissecting footage to predict an opponent’s next move.
Defining “Making It”
What does success feel like? For Kruise, it was tangible: the moment he felt the weight of the Super League trophy in his hands after his first win. However, they both agreed that success is often defined by how you handle the opposite: failure. Carl shared a powerful story about how his career-defining moment wasn’t a win, but a loss. With the unwavering support of his team, he spent a year rebuilding and working harder than ever, eventually returning to beat the same opponent.
Kruise offered a philosophical take on the “polarity” of life, explaining that every high has a low. “Without failures, I wouldn’t have the fire in my belly,” he told the students, adding a warning that success can sometimes be dangerous because it can make an athlete comfortable and complacent.
The Spark: Curiosity and a Golf Course
The students had the chance to ask their own questions, including the big one: “What made you choose your sport?”
Carl started out of pure curiosity. As a quiet kid who shied away from the “loud” personalities on his estate, the ring became the place where he found his voice. Once he started beating the confident kids in sparring, he earned a new identity: “The Boxer.”
Kruise had perhaps the most unique origin story. He was a young golfer who used to practice on the local rugby pitch. The groundsman, tired of Kruise tearing up the grass, made him a deal: he could keep practicing his golf if he signed up for the Under-11s rugby team. He hasn’t looked back since!
Final Thoughts
It was an incredible session that gave our prospective LLS students a raw, honest look at the lives of world-class athletes. A huge thank you to Carl and Kruise for their time, their wisdom, and their continued support of the LLS mission.
Are you ready to start your own journey in sport? Check out your nearest LLS course here
