Leeds Carnegie v Wasps: Leeds keen to mark milestone with win

Guinness Premiership: THE visit of Wasps to Headingley Carnegie tomorrow and the chance to climb off the foot of the Guinness Premiership table, mark the 500th game in the history of Leeds rugby union club.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Feb 2010, 23:20 BST
Updated 26th Feb 2010, 23:25 BST

Founded out of the merger between Headingley and Roundhay in 1992, Leeds made their debut in National Three against Newbury. Now, 18 years later, a period that includes a Powergen Cup triumph, a Heineken Cup appearance and now eight seasons in the Premiership, the club are hoping to defeat Wasps for a second time this season to help them remain among the sport's elite.

Leeds rugby chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "A lot of water has gone under the bridge and a lot of progress has been made.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"A lot of the traditional giants of rugby union have disappeared but Leeds Carnegie, and before that Leeds Tykes and Leeds union club, have made terrific progress and now stand as really one of the 13 elite clubs in the country and we are proud to hold the flag for Yorkshire rugby union as well."

A win for Leeds tomorrow plus defeat for Sale at Gloucester tonight could be enough to lift Leeds off the bottom of the table, although Worcester beat Newcastle last night. But after last Friday night's vital win at Sale, and the surprise victory at Wasps in October, they are confident of more than mere survival.

Head coach Neil Back said: "Last Friday's win was a reward for a great deal of hard work done in the gym and on the training field.

"However, that game has now gone and all the talk this week has been all about Wasps. We won our first game of the season down at Adams Park earlier in the campaign in a hard clash and we know that Wasps are much improved since that game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"They are a smart team who can threaten you from anywhere. But we have confidence in our own ability and hope to ask them some questions."

Scott Mathie starts at scrum-half in one of two changes made by Back and director of rugby Andy Key; Andy Gomarsall having not fully recovered from a leg injury in time. Calum Clark – who earlier this week agreed to join Northampton in the summer - drops to the bench to be replaced by Kearnan Myall.

Former Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Lee Smith has not been named in Wasps' 23-man squad.

Related topics:LeedsHeadingleyRoundhay