Key quick to share credit after picking up top award

ANDY KEY has been named the Guinness Premiership's director of rugby of the season, an award that underlines the nationwide acclaim of Leeds Carnegie's top-flight survival.

The Yorkshire club were odds-on to be relegated from the Premiership for the second time in four years but defied the recent trend of clubs yo-yoing between the top two divisions thanks to six wins since Christmas that secured their status.

Captain Marco Wentzel, flanker Hendre Fourie and centre Seru Rabeni were all named in the Premiership's team of the year as Leeds – who finished 10th, eight points above relegated Worcester – accounted for a fifth of the 15-man dream team.

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Key pipped Halifax-born Jim Mallinder, who won a trophy and guided Northampton to a top-four finish, to the award at a lavish ceremony in London.

Since walking through the door at Headingley two years ago, Key and head coach Neil Back have refused to single out any one individual for praise or admonishment.

And it was with that sense of unity in mind that Key, pictured right, dedicated the award to Back, the coaching staff and to the players.

Key, who was selected by a panel of judges chaired by Premier Rugby director Phil Winstanley, said: "It is a huge honour for Leeds Carnegie to win this award especially when you consider the outstanding coaching quality that now exists in the Guinness Premiership.

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"It is great recognition for the players within the squad because, regardless of what goes on during the week, it was them who did the job when they went across the white line.

"It is also a major boost for our coaching team. Neil Back and I knew the potential when we came to Leeds Carnegie and set out to achieve those goals but the passion and commitment that all the coaching staff have shown has gone above and beyond what we could have expected.

"Whilst it was my name that was included in the nomination, in reality this season has been all about the team effort, therefore the award is shared with the whole management team but especially Neil Back, (defence and skills coach) Simon Middleton and (performance director) Steve Nance as we have all played an equal part in helping the club reach our goal for the season."

He also stressed yesterday that the club would not be signing former World Cup winner Ben Kay.

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The England lock, 34, will leave Leicester Tigers this summer after more than a decade of service at Welford Road.

And although Key and Back will forever be linked with players at a club they spent a combined 40 years at, they have ruled out a move for Kay who in his time at Leicester stood in the way of Wentzel's progression.

Northampton winger Chris Ashton was named player of the year at the Premiership awards and also scooped the top try-scorer gong after crossing the line 16 times.

Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs was named the discovery of the year while former Leeds player Jordan Crane took the performance of the season accolade for his efforts for Leicester against Newcastle last month.