New model designed to enable Yorkshire to blossom

Leeds Rugby’s chief executive, along with executive chairman Sir Ian McGeechan, confirmed their plans yesterday to transform Leeds Carnegie into Yorkshire Carnegie – a club to represent the whole of the White Rose.

They stress they have the backing of rival teams such as Rotherham Titans and Doncaster Knights, as well as England coach Stuart Lancaster, and that their long-term vision should in no way detract from what these and other clubs are trying to do.

What McGeechan and Hetherington say they are creating is a new model to embrace the whole county, based on homegrown players and backed by fresh investment and ownership.

They are seeking between £2m and £4m of investment from throughout the county over a three-year period. This is what they believe to be the minimum cost of sustainability in the Premiership. If this venture – the brainchild of McGeechan – does not work, then Hetherington is warning that Yorkshire can forget about top-flight rugby union.

“For the last 15 years there’s been a lot of money pumped into professional rugby in Yorkshire, particularly at Rotherham, Doncaster and Leeds, and we’ve not been able to deliver between us a sustainable or successful Premiership club,” said Hetherington.

“And it’s getting a lot harder. The reality for the county is can it ever deliver Premiership rugby with a team that is sustainable and successful?

“The answer in most people’s eyes will be no, unless we come up with a bigger and better model than we’ve got at present, because those people who have historically committed the money need to see that there is some realistic hope.

“That is what I believe is now being provided to the county – an opportunity that delivers a new and different model, and it’s got to be bigger and better.

“It will need to be new investment, and we are hopeful that will be forthcoming.

“If it isn’t well-received then at least we’ve provided the opportunity and had a real good go, and if, ultimately, the county turns its back on this opportunity then I believe it’s gone for ever.

“Those who have been in professional rugby at Premiership level understand how difficult it is and how much of a challenge it is, and it is only getting tougher every year. This is a personal view, but I believe if the county doesn’t embrace this opportunity now it will regret it in years to come and I think the opportunity will be lost.”

Hetherington stressed yesterday that this is not Leeds Carnegie coming cap in hand to get one last leg up.

He says they are debt-free, have broken even for the last five years and could happily go along treading water in the Championship.

But they could never be sustainable as Leeds Carnegie in the Premiership, even if they were to win promotion this season.

Every penny of investment they attract will go into the club, either in player recruitment or, more pertinently, player development.

McGeechan has been the driving force behind that ever since he returned to the club he played for in their former guise of Headingley four decades ago.

“This is about professionalising the system, not taking anything away from other clubs but saying can we integrate, and can we have a real development programme that has a top professional club in the Premiership that every talented Yorkshire player can aspire to,” said the Lions legend.

“At the moment my worry is the best Yorkshire talent has to go elsewhere for Premiership rugby.

“I want it here. We want it to be so good that players are desperate to come back.

“What we want is a top professional club playing against the best teams in Europe and the Premiership, for people to be excited and there to be a Yorkshire rose on the jersey as well.”

McGeechan’s vision is to replicate what happens in New Zealand, with Waikoto Chiefs the example he used. They have a team in Super 15 but every club under their umbrella all the way down to school level carries the same name.

“That to me is an integrated system, where schoolmasters, club coaches can feel part of it. Yorkshire is unique in having the ability to do that,” said McGeechan, who has already begun the process of strengthening Carnegie’s RFU-approved academy across the county.

The venture requires ratification from the Rugby Football Union, the Yorkshire RFU and Premier Rugby, but Carnegie do not foresee any stumbling blocks.

The name Leeds in the world of union will become redundant from next season, and the club will also play games around the county, while retaining their home at Headingley and having all the current structures of Carnegie rugby at their disposal.