Sinfield to play rugby union in 2016

Correspondent

Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield has revealed that 2015 will be his last season at the Rhinos, and that he will be playing rugby union for Yorkshire Carnegie in 2016.

Sinfield revealed the decision at a press conference in Leeds on Tuesday.

“I’d just like to say that 2015 will be my final season as a Rhinos player,” he said.

“At the end of this season, I will embark on a new challenge and a new chapter in life, and I’m going to play rugby union for Yorkshire Carnegie.

“It’s a challenge that really excites me. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but I never thought I’d actually get the chance to do it.

“There’s a new board in place at Yorkshire Carnegie, who have set some high ambitions, and have set some targets to get the club back where it belongs in the Premiership.

“With Sir Ian McGeechan, and the head of coaching Bryan Redpath, and the fantastic director of rugby in Chris Gibson, it’s something I want to be a part of going forward.

“It seems to me to be the logical decision going forward. I don’t have to uproot my family, and I know a lot of the guys at the club already.

“I know the support is in place to help with that transition.”

Sinfield was flanked at the press event by Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington, as well as Yorkshire Carnegie’s executive president Sir Ian McGeechan.

He was eager to thank Hetherington, and all the staff at the Rhinos, for the support he has received during his glittering career, and stressed that his focus was very much on the present rather than the future.

“I’d like to thank Gary Hetherington, and everybody who’s played a part in my career to date,” he added.

“I’ve been here since I was a 13-year-old, and the club means so much to me.

“But at some stage it has to end. It doesn’t end quite yet, there’s still seven months of the season to go.

“I’m very committed, like I’ve always been, and I’ll ensure that I do my best every day, going forward for the Rhinos.

“My focus going forward now is to get myself back fit, and fighting for my spot back in the team to ensure that 2015 for the Rhinos finishes in the right way.

“Hopefully we can add to the history we’ve created over this last 10 years.”