Leyds was educated at Western Province Preparatory School and went on to Bishops College in Cape Town, where he played for their First XV rugby side in 2009 and 2010, alongside players such as Nizaam Carr, Oli Kebble, Johnny Kôtze, Sam Lane and Tim Swiel.

[3] In 2012, Leyds was a member of the South African Under-20 side that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship on home soil.

He came on as a second-half substitute and scored a conversion with his first touch of the ball, plus added a penalty later to help Western Province to a 28–17 victory.

[17][18] In March 2014, Western Province announced that Leyds would return to the Cape Town-based side for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season.

[19] Due to ongoing commitments with the Force and Perth Spirit, he only started training with Western Province towards the end of September 2014.