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Rugby Union

Leicester legend Back takes up head coach role at Leeds

27/06/2008

Leicester Tigers legend Neil Back has left the club to take up the position of head coach at relegated side Leeds Carnegie.

Back was thought to be one of the favourites to become the head coach at Leicester after the departure of Marcelo Loffreda from Welford Road. South African Heyneke Meyer is now the favourite to take over at the Tigers.

The Tigers head of rugby development, Andy Key, has also joined Leeds to take up a role of director of rugby and he and Back have both signed three-year deals.

"After meeting (chief executive) Gary Hetherington and seeing the set-up both at the club's training ground and at Leeds Met, I knew that Leeds Carnegie presented me with the ideal opportunity to further my coaching career," said Back.

"I have had some fantastic times at Leicester and it was a big decision to take myself out of the application process for the director of rugby position there and end my long association with the club.

"However, Andy and I are excited about coming to Leeds, starting on Monday, and getting down to work with the coaching staff and players to begin our preparations for the challenges ahead."

Back was a cornerstone of the England team that won the World Cup in 2003, he won a total of 66 caps for his country. He also played 339 times for the Tigers scoring 125 tries.

The 39-year-old has been defensive coach at Leicester since retiring from the game in 2005.