Back has left his comfort zone at Welford Road, where he interviewed for the director of rugby role, to take up the challenge of ensuring Leeds make an immediate return to the Guinness Premiership.

He will be head coach alongside his old Leicester colleague Andy Key, who is Leeds's new director of rugby.

"I did interview with the Tigers but a couple of days later I interviewed with Leeds," said 39-year-old Back.

"Meeting the people and seeing the structure in place here made it an easy choice for me. After agreeing terms with Leeds I effectively took myself out of the running at Leicester.

"I don't think it's a gamble on my part. It's a great opportunity and I'm privileged to have been given it.

Click the green button to hear an interview with Neil Back.

"Hopefully, at the end of the year the appointment will be shown to be the correct one for both parties.

"The first meeting with Gary Hetherington (Leeds chief executive) went well and when I saw the infrastructure here I didn't take much convincing.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for Andy and myself to put our stamp on things."

The challenge for the managerial duo is a simple one – win promotion.

Leeds have retained most of their players from last season giving Key and Back a solid base to build on.

They oversaw their first training session at the Leeds Rugby Academy yesterday and will sit down with each player over the coming weeks to discuss their plans.

Both men believe intensity will be a vital ingredient in achieving promotion.


Key, who had experience of coaching in National One with Bedford, said: "Every game is going to be a cup final. The league has strengthened since I was last involved.

"But we are going to try and bring a style of rugby that is pretty intense.

"We both realise the task we face. We need to get close to the players quickly to establish why we came down and how can we get them back up.

"There's a couple of areas of expertise that we think we can bring to the party, but we'll take as much time as we can to try and get to know the players.

"We are aware of their strengths and hopefully it won't take too long."

Both men remained tight- lipped about incoming players, but top of the agenda is trying to persuade Tom Biggs that his future lies at Leeds, with their old club Leicester one of the clubs sniffing around the talented winger.

"He's a class act and as far as we are concerned we want to retain him and we'd like to talk to him quite quickly," added Key.

"We'll be looking in the market place for new players. All options are open. I like to think our departure from Leicester has been amicable and we'd like to forge some strong relationships with them."

Leeds open the season against Nottingham and Exeter, two sides who finished joint second last year who will be out to cause an early upset.

"We have got a great start to the season in my view," said Back, whose 66th and final cap for England came in the 2003 World Cup final.

"What better way to begin than against two of the sides we'll be challenging for promotion.

"Pre-season will be important for us to ensure we are mentally and physically prepared for the start of the season."



Leeds' new coaching duo: factfile


Neil Back

Age: 39

Playing career: Nottingham, Leicester Tigers; won 66 caps for England and also played on three British Lions tours, the final time being in 2005.

Coaching career: Various coaching roles at Leicester, where he won the Guinness A league.

Andy Key

Age: 49

Playing career: Leicester, Bedford and Nottingham

Coaching career: Coached at Bedford in National One; has held number of coaching positions at Leicester, from assistant first- team backs coach, academy manager and head of rugby development.