Leeds Tykes are back as Yorkshire Carnegie name is abandoned

That would also end their long association with Leeds Rhinos.

The name change has been expected ever since director of rugby Phil Davies - who once led Tykes into the Premiership and saw them lift the Powergen Cup at Twickenham - returned to the club in January.

Admittedly, plenty has happened since then with Carnegie, after so many financial issues and already operating a part-time outfit, doomed for relegation into National One even before coronavirus saw the Championship campaign cancelled.

Nevertheless, there is finally some clarity about how the troubled club will now look moving forward after eight years as Yorkshire Carnegie.

Tykes, who will use the same logo as when they flew so high in their golden period, have now also seen that long-standing arrangement with Rhinos officially ended. For 25 years they shared the Leeds Rugby Academy facilities at Kirkstall with the Super League club and have played home matches at Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium but that ceases.

However, one link does remain with Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington continuing as a director of Tykes and there will be further support with Headingley hosting one game each season.

Tykes’ expected new home, though, will see them share the impressive facilities at Yorkshire Two club West Park Leeds in Bramhope for both training and hosting home games.

Changes to the board of directors included the appointment of Alistair Da Costa as chairman and Mike Bidgood returns as company secretary.

Bidgood was part of the club’s formation in 1990 when Headingley and Roundhay merged and he served for almost 30 years until 2018.

Finally, former Wales international Davies - who will continue to work part-time and travel from his home in Wales - joins the board as director of rugby with overall responsibility for the rugby department.

He said: “This is a reset time for the club after a few traumatic years and whilst it certainly presents a big challenge, I know there is so much potential in Leeds and the surrounding areas to produce a very competitive team from local talented players.

“To recreate the spirit and ethos we had as Leeds Tykes is one of my goals and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Clearly, with a drastically reduced budget and minimal central funding, Tykes essentially have to start again.

But as all clubs await news from the RFU about when the delayed new season will begin, Davies has started the recruiting process.

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James Mitchinson