Sir Ian McGeechan has revealed a new vision for professional rugby union in Yorkshire with the announcement of a new club to replace Leeds Carnegie. The operation, to be known as Yorkshire Carnegie from 2014-15, will be run by a new board but the team will continue to play at Headingley and use existing players, staff and facilities. McGeechan is the brainchild behind the idea and he sees it as the only way for the county to achieve representation at the highest level - the changes are also being supported by current England coach Stuart Lancaster. Leeds Carnegie currently sit second in the Greene King IPA Championship table, level on points with local rivals Rotherham Titans, and they are in good position to challenge for promotion back to the Aviva Premiership in 2014-15. McGeechan said: "Since the game went professional in 1995, benevolent individuals at clubs like Leeds, Rotherham and Doncaster have pumped millions of pounds of their own money into trying to make professional rugby union a success in Yorkshire. "Undoubtedly, the player pool within the county is as strong as ever with the fantastic work being done at junior and school levels." Sir Ian McGeechan "We have successfully created an Academy structure that benefits all clubs across the county and the time is right now to spread that philosophy to the senior structure. "We now face a crossroads if we are able to create a sustainable future for the professional side of the game. "The only way we can fulfil this vision is to bring together all interested parties and create a new board to enable Yorkshire Carnegie to have the resources to compete with the very best. "I would ask anyone who would consider investment and sponsorship to contact me personally at the club so I can discuss the level of commitment required to take the project forward."
But thats four letters longer? How the hell will they make money in the Asian markets? The mind boggles
Union is the only rugby worth being called a sport. How big an event worldwide is the rugby league World Cup?
I think the points are: (a) anything that removes the letters Leeds from a name has to be an improvement, and (b) Yorkshire == Leeds (+ some other less important bits). Does this mean they will be skimming off the best players from Rotherham, Doncaster, Ionians, etc., to the detriment of other clubs in the county?
