Leeds boosted after Pendlebury signs

The 28-year-old former Rotherham and Gloucester lock watched Leeds’s Premiership relegation from the sidelines as he recovered from shoulder surgery.

“It was a frustrating season for me last year because of the injury and it was obviously frustrating for the rest of the guys because of the results on the field,” said Pendlebury, who had been linked with a return to hometown club Rotherham.

“However, the start of pre-season and the arrival of a new head coach makes it a fresh start for me and I cannot wait to get back out there.”

The appointment of a new head coach is expected to be made in the next few days.

Pendlebury said: “I had agreed to join Rotherham on loan last season as a way of getting some gametime when I was fit and ready to play again.

“Unfortunately by the time I was fit, Rotherham had no more games and it never worked out however there was some misperception that I had signed for them for this season, which was not the case.

“My intention was always to try and prove my worth to Leeds Carnegie. I was fit for the last four games of the season but unfortunately did not have the opportunity to show what I can do.

“The club are in a tough position at the moment but we will all be pulling together to get us back in to the Aviva Premiership next season. We return for pre-season training on June 13 and the new head coach will be in place by then and we can start to look forward and put the past behind us.”