Tykes are buoyed as players opt to stay for crusade
THE rebuild of Leeds Tykes is well underway and director of rugby Phil Davies believes ensuring around 90 per cent of his squad are based or work in the city will be key to any resurgence.
After their much- publicised financial issues, Yorkshire Carnegie’s inevitable relegation from the Championship has allowed the club to start again back in its original guise of Tykes.
It was a reset Davies, the effusive Welshman who led Leeds to Europe in their heyday around 15 years ago, insists was essential.
Covid has meant the National League One 2020- 21 season never got underway but that does not mean he has not been busy making plans for an eventual return to action, hopefully in January or February.
Davies has been buoyed by the fact talented young centre Dan Lancaster – son of former England coach Stuart – has opted to stay with the club along with a raft of other players.
“It was good to retain Dan and I think there were 11 or 12 in total from last year, which was important for me,” he told The Yorkshire Post.
“But, more importantly, was retaining the right people and the right players.
“We’ve talked to them quite a lot over the last three or four months about creating a DNA and a culture we all feel we can rebuild the club on.
“The four pillars we can build it on are team first, honesty, no excuses and hard work. It’s not rocket science.
“Jake Brady was another massively important player for me and Trystan Lloyd who were experienced players in last year’s group.
“Add to that Andrew Lawson who’s a really good club man and the younger element of that with Lancaster, Adam Brown and Jack Metcalf.
“In recruitment, we’ve looked at a couple of things such as the players are either playing or living in Leeds – which 90 per cent of them are – and being good people as well as good rugby players.
“We’ve a couple just outside of York but the majority are in Leeds. There’s people like Will Hardwick, the scrum- half we’re bringing in. He has good pedigree given his father Rob played for London Irish and England and his brothers are good rugby players, too.
“Then we’ve got James Tincknell, who we’ve brought back in with great experience. We’re looking at people associated and attached to the city and the club.”
Leeds – who have seen Gregory Property Group sign a two- year shirt sponsorship deal – will also utilise links with both of the city’s universities.
Davies added: “We’ve looked at a balance of youth and experience and with the restrictions on recruitment – Covid being the obvious one and finance another – I think we’ve done really well.
“We have more to announce but the other big advantage, of course, is the link back with the universities with Pete Seabourne at University of Leeds and obviously Leeds Beckett with Colin ( Stephens) there.
“It’ll be a squad of 44 players with a core squad of 26 and a squad of 18 coming from the universities.
“We’re hoping to marry the two programmes together–the university programme and the National League programme–for the benefit of all players and the talent we have in there. It’s a bit innovative, a bit different but we’re starting from scratch again.”
Tykes, who will play at West Park Leeds, are yet to start training but the National League hopes to run a cup competition in the new year and Davies said:
“It potentially could be an adaptable form of game. But it’s going to be contact in round- robin matches which will be fabulous with potential games against Wharfedale, Harrogate, Rotherham before going in the national competition.”
Gregory Property Group owner Barry Gregory is a long- standing sponsor of the club since their days as Headingley.
He said: “I am delighted to become a main club sponsor at the beginning of what is hopefully a new era under the stewardship of Phil Davies. He has all the skills and attributes necessary to restore the club to its former days of recognition and success.”