Leeds Carnegie veteran Rob Rawlinson says that the club's young players have given pre-season training a boost this summer.

Rawlinson will begin his 11th season at the club when Leeds kick off their campaign against Newcastle Falcons on 6th September at Headingley Carnegie but it is the next generation of stars that the hooker claims are leading the way in pre-season training.

The former Orrell hooker commented, "The young blokes have really lifted things in training. They have not just come into the training squad to make up the numbers, they are leading the way in some aspects and that has given everyone a lift. They are nice lads and they get on with everyone, they are not sat in the corner, they are very much part of the team.

"I have been doing weights with a young hooker called George Warner who is doing a great job, as all the young lads are," added Rawlinson.

Carnegie are already a month into a 19-week training programme which has been created by Performance Director Steve Nance. Rawlinson has revealed that the variety within the programme has kept the players fresh and excited about pre-season. He commented, "Steve has a model that he has used successful with the Australian national team and the Brisbane Broncos in Rugby League and it is working well for us. There is a lot of variety within the training week including going out to schools for training sessions. That means we are not just stuck in the gym at Kirkstall or aimlessly running round a track.

"Steve has introduced wrestling and boxing into our schedule. It is tough work but you don't necessarily realise how much good it is doing you at the time. It is all relative fitness to the job you have to do out on the pitch so it will stand us in good stead come the start of the season," added Rawlinson.

Following the announcement of the new Guinness Premiership fixture list recently, Leeds now know when that season will begin. A home clash with Newcastle Falcons on Sunday 6th September is now firmly fixed in the diaries of all the Leeds Carnegie players. Rawlinson revealed the Falcons game is now paramount in the players thoughts. "The old adage of one game at a time is still true it is just our next competitive game is that Falcons one and it is a long way off. That has given everyone a real focus. All our energies are tuned to that Newcastle game and trying to win it."

Pre-season will also see Leeds Carnegie focus on their tactical play as well as their fitness especially with the change to laws of the game that have come into effect this summer. The South Africans took full advantage of the change in the maul laws in the First test against the British Lions and Rawlinson says there are lessons to be learnt for all teams from that experience. He added, "It was interesting to watch that game especially because you can not pull a maul down now. There was some old school wrestling in the maul and I think that will be a real weapon for teams next season.

"South Africa gave the Lions a hiding in the First test and you can see how competitive the break down is going to be this season from the Lions series. The team who is in charge in that area will control the game and I think that will be the story in the Guinness Premiership next season," added Rawlinson.