Leeds Carnegie, Rotherham Titans and Doncaster Knights get busy in the transfer market

Three Yorkshire clubs, Leeds Carnegie, Rotherham Titans and Doncaster Knights, will all be battling it out to reach the double-legged play-off final at the end of the season in their bid to reach the Aviva Premiership.

Having been relegated from the Premiership last season, Leeds start afresh in the Championship on the weekend of September 3/4 with a large turn-around of players in the off-season.

Many players have left Headingley Carnegie, including England internationals Hendre Fourie and Steve Thompson and captain Marco Wentzel, but five new signings have been announced with the emphasis being on quality.

Twenty-one-year-old Joe Ford was the first signing in Leeds’ revolution under newly-appointed head coach Diccon Edwards.

The promising fly-half re-signs with Leeds after a season with Northampton Saints in which he was restricted to only five first-team appearances.

Dan Hemingway then followed from Leicester Tigers. The versatile back-row forward who can also play second-row has agreed a two-year contract having played in the Championship for the past two years on loan at Nottingham.

Full-back Stevie McColl has been signed as the last line of defence from Doncaster Knights, also on a two-year contract.

Having played for Scotland in the 2008 Junior World Championships, the 22-year-old will bring some international experience to the youthful looking playing squad.

Ryan Burrows, who made more than 100 appearances in a four-year spell at Clifton Lane, has signed from local rivals Rotherham Titans.

Their most recent off-season acquisition is that of David Young. The 26-year-old tight-head prop has signed from Edinburgh. A Scotland A international, he will vie for a place alongside newly-appointed captain Andy Titterrell in Leeds Carnegie’s front row.

All signings have been made on two-year deals as Leeds look to rebuild for the future.

As for Rotherham, they have signed second-row Robin Copeland from Plymouth Albion. At 6’5” and 16 stone, he is sure to bring physicality to the Titans pack as they look to improve on their seventh-place finish last season.

Powerful New Zealander Pale Nonu has also signed for Andre Bester’s side from Launceston following their relegation into National Two South. The 32-year-old centre is the brother of All Black Ma’a Nonu.

Doncaster, who finished sixth last season, have been very busy in the off-season.

Brett Davey has replaced Lynn Howells as director of rugby and has immediately got busy in the transfer market, adding 12 players to the first-team squad as they look to put together a team capable of challenging for top honours.

Welshman Davey is looking to get the right blend between youth and experience.

Their first signing of the off-season was that of 20-year-old winger Michael Keating, an exciting prospect who has already made four first-team appearances for Leinster in the Magners League.

Jack Yeandle, an England Students hooker, was recruited to bolster their hooking options and to bring healthy competition for places in that department.

The signing of former Wasps and England Under-21 fly-half star Mike Whitehead brings experience to the squad and he is sure to be a key player in the coming season. He previously had a successful spell at local rivals Rotherham Titans before spending a year with London Welsh.

Winger Ben Toft has joined the club from French side Oyonnax. Previously the England Under-16, Under-18 and Under-19 capped international had a three-year spell with Coventry at Championship level.

Scrum-half Lee Audis has signed from Coventry to provide competition for places for the No 9 jersey. He is known for his quick service and sniping runs around the ruck area.

Castle Park will also see the introduction of David Mcilwane from Ulster. A versatile player who can fill in at full-back, winger and centre, the 21-year-old has previous invaluable Heineken Cup experience with the Irish province.

Following serious injury and an enforced spell out the game, popular figure Chris Planchant has returned to the Knights after a full recovery from surgery. The No 8 who can also play in both flanking positions was a popular figure in his first spell at the club.

Back-rower Michael Noone has signed from Leinster. The powerful Irishman is known for his strong running with ball in hand and at 6”4’ and 17.5 stone he is sure to bring physicality to the Knights pack.

Prop Alex Brown, 22, has been recruited from Premiership champions Saracens. Having broken into their first team two years ago for a match against Rovigo, he will be looking to build on a promising start to his career.

Tom Davies has been signed and is another player to return to the club for a second spell. The Doncaster-born prop returns to his hometown club after a spell in the Magners League with the Cardiff Blues.

Tom Luke has also returned to Castle Park after a few years away. The versatile fly-half and centre who can also fill in in other positions has signed from last season’s RFU Championship play-off finalists Cornish Pirates. And Adam Kettle becomes the 27th squad member. The back-row player has put pen to paper on a return to Doncaster after a spell at Rotherham.