Leeds RUFC was originally formed in 1992 by a merger of Roundhay and Headingley. In turn Leeds RUFC became Leeds Tykes after the club was bought by Paul Caddick and became part of Leeds Rugby Limited, the world's first dual code rugby partnership which saw one company controlling and running a professional teams in Rugby League (Leeds Rhinos) and Rugby Union (Leeds Tykes).
However, following the Championship winning campaign of 2006-07, it was announced that Leeds Metropolitan University had entered into a joint venture with the club and taken a majority stake in Leeds Tykes, with the club renamed Leeds Carnegie for their return to the Guinness Premiership.
The change of ownership is a ground breaking arrangement in British sport with an educational institution taking over ownership of a professional sporting organisation.
However, in May 2009 it was announced that, following promotion back to the Guinness Premiership, that the club was re-structuring with former Wales and British Lion international Gareth Davies joining a new board of Directors, and Leeds Rugby taking control of the club once again.
In order to attract further financial support for the club, Leeds Met has returned its 51% stake in the club to Leeds Rugby and agreed a revised strategic partnership arrangement, which includes sponsorship. The name of the club will remain as Leeds Carnegie RUFC.
Davies, who is a former Chief Executive of Cardiff RFC and BBC Wales Head of Sport, is the new Dean of the Carnegie Faculty of Sport & Education at Leeds Met and he will represent the university on a new board, which is headed up by Paul Caddick as Chairman.
The name Carnegie comes from the Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie whose Carnegie Trust funded the establishment of a PE teaching training college in 1930s.
Carnegie College is now the Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education within Leeds Metropolitan University.
Director of Rugby: Andy Key
Head Coach: Neil Back
Chairman: Paul Caddick
Chief Executive: Gary Hetherington
Commercial Director: Rob Oates
0113 2033266
rob.oates@leedsrugby.com
Ground:
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
St Michael's Lane,
Headingley,
Leeds.
LS6 3BR.
General Enquiries: 0844 248 6651
Main Fax Number: 0844 248 6652
Email Address: info@leedsrugby.com
Ticket Office:
0871 423 1315
tickets@leedsrugby.com
Media & PR Department:
Phil Daly
Tel: 0113 2033281
Mob: 07885 995330
phil.daly@leedsrugby.com
Marketing Department
Abigail Furniss
0113 2033286
abigail.furniss@leedsrugby.com
Community Marketing Manager:
John Bentley
0113 2399186
john.bentley@leedsrugby.com
Corporate Sales
0113 2033222
sales@leedsrugby.com
First Season:
Leeds RUFC founded in 1991 after the merger of Roundhay and Headingley. They were renamed Leeds Tykes in 1998 and became Leeds Carnegie in 2007.
Captain: Marco Wentzel