Lund hoping to leave Leeds with a splash at Bath

WITH the fear of relegation now gone, Leeds Carnegie can approach a game without any pressure for the first time all season when they head to Bath today.

Neil Back and Andy Key's side secured their Guinness Premiership status with their historic victory over Worcester almost a fortnight ago and so their final fixture of the campaign will be a relatively stress-free afternoon.

However, that will not mean they will be taking the game lightly, especially as resurgent Bath still require points to cement a top four play-off place, and for many at the Yorkshire club it will be their final game in Leeds colours.

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Second-row Erik Lund is the latest to announce he will not be staying at Headingley Carnegie next season after securing a move to Heineken Cup finalists Biarritz.

He will link up at the French club with his brother – England international Magnus – on a two-year contract but will attempt to end his time with Leeds, who were in 12th and bottom place at Christmas, on a high.

"If we can win we can keep ninth position which would be a huge success, especially given where we were at Christmas," said the Norwegian forward, who joined from Rotherham Titans three years ago.

"It would be great to end with a victory. I have got a lot of friends here at Leeds and I will always have a strong link to the team."

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Lund, 30, conceded it was one of the toughest decisions of his life to turn down the club's offer to stay especially given the platform they have handed him in top flight rugby.

"I will always be extremely grateful to Leeds Carnegie for believing in me and giving me the chance to play in the Guinness Premiership," he said, ahead of his 74th appearance.

"There are some obvious reasons why I decided to join Biarritz, notably the chance to play alongside my brother, to play in the Heineken Cup and experience a new lifestyle.

"All of those were beyond Leeds Carnegie's control. However, it was incredibly difficult because of how special this group of players are here."

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Bath were just three points above Leeds at Christmas after winning only one of their opening 10 fixtures.

But, in a remarkable transformation, Steve Meehan's squad have since triumphed in 10 of their next 11 and know success at The Rec today would secure a play-off semi-final at champions Leicester next Sunday.

Like Lund, Andy Gomarsall is set to make his final appearance for Leeds at one of his former clubs, while on the bench Alex Moreno lines up for his last fixture before retiring and Northampton-bound Joe Ford and Henry Paul could also make their last plays.

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