Kyle back to league code with Rhinos
FORMER Wasps and England centre Kyle Eastmond has confirmed his return to rugby league.
The 31-year-old dual code international has agreed a two-year contract with Leeds Rhinos.
Eastmond made 18 appearances for Wasps before moving to Leicester Tigers in 2018.
However, he was one of a group of players who left the Mattioli Woods Welford Road in July 2020 after refusing to take a 25 per cent pay cut.
Eastmond enjoyed a breakthrough season with St Helens in 2008 and scored all of his team’s points in the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeat by Leeds as well as gaining England selection for the Four Nations, gaining four caps in total. He scored 15 tries in 19 games in the 2010 Super League season as scrum-half with Saints as well as kicking 63 goals and two drop goals before switching codes to join Bath.
Eastmond went on to make 72 appearances for Bath, scoring 16 tries, as well as earning six England caps between 2013 and 2014. Three of his five starts were against the All Blacks. He then switched to Wasps before moving to Tigers.
Eastmond said:“i am excited to be coming back to rugby league. Just like the timing was right for me when I went to rugby union, I think the time is right for me to come back to league now.
“I was coached by Richard Agar when I was younger and obviously played alongside Sean Long at Saints.
“This move is about me playing my very best rugby and I think this environment and this group of staff and players, gives me confidence that I can do that. If I’m happy I can play at my best.”
THE ATP has announced that prize money will be increased at lower-ranked tournaments as part of a financial support package amid the coronavirus pandemic.
ATP 250 and ATP 500 events will see winnings rise from 50 per cent of pre-covid totals to 80 and 60 per cent respectively up until Wimbledon, thanks to top players agreeing to share the wealth.
The extra £3.72million will come from money that ordinarily goes to the top 12 players at the end of the season, with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer among those giving their support via the ATP Player Council.
The governing body’s support package also includes the introduction of a Covid-19 protected ranking to be used if a player is not active on the Tour for more than four weeks - and an increase in the number of support staff players can have at tournaments, which has been restricted to two.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Our tournaments’ revenues continue to be severely impacted by restrictions on ticket sales, and a substantial improvement on this front looks unlikely before mid-year.
“Our focus is to ensure the Tour continues supporting as many players as possible and I would like to thank the top-ranked players and the Player Council for supporting this measure.”