Aspiring Leeds on verge of securing Thompson

Thompson, who quit the game three years ago due to a neck injury only to make a dramatic return to club and international rugby, has been released by French club Brive and Leeds have moved quickly for the experienced and durable front row.

The 31-year-old, who forced his way back into England manager Martin Johnson's thinking after a successful three-year spell in the French Top 14, played alongside Leeds head coach Neil Back in the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney.

Back tempted another of England's World Cup heroes Andy Gomarsall to move north last summer, and with the former scrum-half having now retired, the head coach has dipped into his vast contact book to lure another marque name to Yorkshire.

Thompson and Back played together on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005, but it was in 2007 that at the relatively young age of 28, Thompson appeared to have played for the last time.

He sustained a neck injury playing for Northampton – his only club up to that point – in a Heineken Cup game against Biarritz in January 2007 and by April had announced the problem had forced him out of the game. He joined Brive as a technical adviser but was persuaded back onto the field later that year.

Two years later, amid a front row injury crisis, another of his old team-mates from Sydney, Johnson, recalled him to the England squad, capping a remarkable renaissance for the Londoner.

Thompson earned his 53rd and 54th caps against the Barbarians and Argentina.

At 6ft 3ins and 18 stone, Thompson is larger than the average hooker, and considerably bigger than Andy Titterrell, another former England No 2 who joined Leeds at the turn of the year.

Titterrell was one of the decisive factors in Leeds's successful survival fight last year with the increased mobility he brought to the position.

He has just signed a two-year deal with the Headingley club and was set to be the starting hooker next season but with Leeds targeting a top-six place next season and Heineken Cup qualification, they have acted quickly to bolster their options.

Despite his size, Thompson also possesses nimble footwork and Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington has authorised his coaching staff to make the move even though the salary budget for next season is yet to be finalised following a recent countywide appeal for a cash injection of 1m.

Hetherington said: "When a current international becomes available you have to make your move and that's exactly what we've done.

"He's another marque name and to be able to bring internationals into the squad is part and parcel of our plan to get into the top six next season. It would be a big signing for us.

"With Andy Titterrell and Phil Nilsen we've already got a strong hooker department, and if we can clinch Thompson it would be as good as any in the division.

"The whole impetus for us is on quality not quantity in the players we bring in.

"We're getting very close to bringing Steve in and we're hoping to have it finalised shortly."

Leeds director of rugby Andy Key, who along with Back guided Leeds to Premiership safety against all the odds, added: "Steve is a class act and someone that I think any club would be interested in."

Leeds are hoping to finalise contract negotiations over the next 48 hours as Thompson is due to fly out with England squad on Monday for their summer tour to Australia and New Zealand.

Thompson is set to contest the hooker jersey for the five-game series with Lee Mears following the withdrawal from the squad of Dylan Hartley.

He says he is coming to Leeds because of the club's progressive attitude and their team spirit, and also because he feels he still has plenty to learn in the game.

"Leeds have got a great set-up and I go there with a bit of experience but willing to learn," said Thompson, who played 42 times for Brive.

"They're going to have the tight-knit group that I want to get involved with. I spoke to Andy Key and Neil Back and had a real good conversation with them and I'm really excited about the challenge there.

"They're the only club I've spoken to. I'm really happy and we're almost there."

Exeter Chiefs – who came close to pipping Leeds to promotion in Back and Key's first season at Headingley – joined the Premiership elite after defeating Bristol in the two-legged Championship play-off final.

It will be their first season in the top flight and ends the six-year cycle of the team relegated from the Premiership securing an instant return.

What happened to cup winners?

Iain Balshaw: Full-back lost Heineken Cup final with Biarritz last weekend.

Josh Lewsey: Retired. Currently trying to reach the top of Everest.

Jason Robinson: Left his position as Sale Sharks head coach at end of this season.

Stuart Abbott: Coached Rosslyn Park to promotion from National League Two South.

Will Greenwood: Sky TV rugby pundit.

Mike Tindall: Gloucester centre playing for England v Barbarians tomorrow.

Ben Cohen: Winger plays at Sale after spell with Steve Thompson at Brive.

Dan Luger: Combining playing, coaching and director's role at Rugby Nice.

Mike Catt: Played his final competitive match for London Irish this month at 38.

Paul Grayson: On coaching staff at Northampton Saints.

Jonny Wilkinson: Playing with Toulon in France, still in England squad.

Kyran Bracken: Judge on TV show Dancing On Ice.

Matt Dawson: Question of Sport captain and media columnist.

Andy Gomarsall: Considering retirement after helping Leeds Carnegie stay in the Premiership.

Jason Leonard: Involved in charity work.

Simon Shaw: Second-row still going strong for Wasps and England.

Phil Vickery: Wasps prop recovering from injury.

Julian White: The Leicester prop, 37, has signed on for another 12 months.

Trevor Woodman: Forwards coach at Wasps.

Mark Regan: Coaches Bristol club Clifton.

Steve Thompson: Hooker on verge of move to Leeds.

Dorian West: Forwards coach at Northampton.

Martin Johnson: England team manger.

Ben Kay: Bidding to win his sixth Premiership title with Leicester tomorrow, his final game before being released.

Neil Back: Head coach at Leeds Carnegie since 2008.

Martin Corry: Retired at the end of 2008-09 season.

Richard Hill: Commercial work at Saracens.

Lewis Moody: Moving to Bath next season, captaining England in Australia.

Lawrence Dallaglio: Charity work, launched own pasta sauce and a Wasps director.

Joe Worsley: Wasps back-row will tour Australia.