Leeds Carnegie to stay in the RFU Championship amidst player leaving – Rugby News Update
Leeds Carnegie, a rugby team that plays in the RFU Championship in England, the second tier of the English rugby union system, is facing uncertain times ahead of the new season. Currently sitting 6th in the RFU Championship and out of the play-offs
position, which would ensure a way back to the Premiership, Leeds has decided to let go off players who they feel are surplus to requirements.
Trying to be buoyant after facing the reality of staying in the second tier for another year, the head coach of Leeds Carnegie, Diccon Edwards, said, “We have been working hard behind the scenes on our recruitment policy for next season and attracting the
right calibre of player, and importantly person, to our club.”
Leeds Carnegie has flirted with promotion and demotion over the last couple of years. Since 2006, they have, in four consecutive seasons, been promoted, only to be subsequently demoted the next season. They managed to stay up in the Premiership in 2009 –
2010 season, but again they languish in the RFU Champion, which was inaugurated in September 2009, and unlike the old second tier which was semi-professional, the current format is a professional league.
The Leeds club has to put in place a policy that helps the team rebuild and sustain a challenge next year. Speaking about the exodus of players, the head coach mentioned that Carnegie has used 60 players across all competitions this year and it is only natural
that players leave and go. However, he did assuage the supporters by saying that they are retaining the services of players that they deem will help promotion in the next season. Most importantly for Leeds Carnegie they have retained the services of Captain
Andy Titterrell for the next season.
Speaking about the players leaving, Edwards said, “On behalf of the club, I would like to thank all the players for their efforts for Leeds Carnegie. It has certainly been a challenging first season for us in the Championship but one from which we will look
to learn valuable lessons for next season so we can come back stronger.”
Their fate in the RFU Championship was sealed when the Pirates defeated Bedford 21 – 20, after their game against Rotherham last Saturday, which they won 21 – 18. For next year, they can look forward to promotion once again.
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