We are Leeds again as Yorkshire Carnegie’s relegation is confirmed

Flashback: Phil Davies after he had guided Leeds Tykes to the Powergen Cup – a highpoint in its 30-year history. They will kick off next season in the third tier – National League One. (Picture: Steve Riding)

Yorkshire Carnegie have been relegated but director of rugby Phil Davies is confident the club can rebuild and confirmed they will now revert back to their former name of Leeds.

Having cancelled the remainder of the season two weeks ago due to Covid-19, the Rugby Football Union yesterday announced the final league positions would be calculated on a best playing record formula.

It maintains promotion and relegation will occur throughout the divisions and – with bottom-placed Carnegie having lost all 14 Championship games this term – Davies’ side have officially dropped into National League One for 2020-21.

It is a dramatic fall from grace for a club who, under the Welshman’s first period in charge, rose from the lower echelons to the Premiership, finishing fourth in 2003.

That saw them earn Heineken Cup rugby and they also won the Powergen Cup at Twickenham two years later.

However, they have been out of the top-flight since 2011 and, after hitting major financial problems last year, became a part-time operation this term.

Davies, who returned to the club in January, said: “Unfortunately, relegation was inevitable given the results we had suffered this season.

“But it is a shame for the lads who gave so much this season that they have not had the chance to finish off the campaign.

“I can only talk about since the turn of the year but I’ve seen how much hard work they have put in on a part-time basis and there were shoots of recovery coming.

“This is an end of one era that has seen the club rise to the top two divisions, win a Cup at Twickenham, play amongst the elite in Europe, produce numerous internationals as well as offering countless chances for local players to play professional rugby union.

“But it is time now for a new era. Playing in National One next season offers us an opportunity to rebuild the club, reset our culture and principles and set the values we want to instil.