This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/31/kevin-sinfield-swap-codes-leeds-rinos-yorkshire-carnegie
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kevin Sinfield to swap codes and end career with Yorkshire Carnegie | Kevin Sinfield to swap codes and end career with Yorkshire Carnegie |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Kevin Sinfield is to swap codes and swap Leeds sides after the Rhinos announced he would leave the rugby league club at the end of the 2015 season to finish his career with Yorkshire Carnegie. | Kevin Sinfield is to swap codes and swap Leeds sides after the Rhinos announced he would leave the rugby league club at the end of the 2015 season to finish his career with Yorkshire Carnegie. |
| Sinfield, 34, the Rhinos’ all-time leading goal and points scorer, has agreed an 18-month contract with the rugby union club. | Sinfield, 34, the Rhinos’ all-time leading goal and points scorer, has agreed an 18-month contract with the rugby union club. |
| He led the Rhinos to six titles having been made captain in 2003 when he was just 22. He has made 26 appearances for England, including captaining his country at the 2013 World Cup, and has made a further 14 appearances for Great Britain. | He led the Rhinos to six titles having been made captain in 2003 when he was just 22. He has made 26 appearances for England, including captaining his country at the 2013 World Cup, and has made a further 14 appearances for Great Britain. |
| Sinfield told the Rhinos’ website: “This was one of the toughest decisions of my career but I know the time is right for me to finish my time in rugby league and embark on a new challenge with Yorkshire Carnegie. | Sinfield told the Rhinos’ website: “This was one of the toughest decisions of my career but I know the time is right for me to finish my time in rugby league and embark on a new challenge with Yorkshire Carnegie. |
| “I never wanted to play against the Rhinos and throughout my career I have always had an admiration for rugby union and wanted to challenge myself in that code. I am fortunate as a professional player in this era that opportunities like this exist for me and it is something I want to grab with both hands. | “I never wanted to play against the Rhinos and throughout my career I have always had an admiration for rugby union and wanted to challenge myself in that code. I am fortunate as a professional player in this era that opportunities like this exist for me and it is something I want to grab with both hands. |
| “Yorkshire Carnegie have set out ambitious plans to gain promotion from the Championship next season and regain their place in the Premiership and that is something that excites me. | “Yorkshire Carnegie have set out ambitious plans to gain promotion from the Championship next season and regain their place in the Premiership and that is something that excites me. |
| “My entire adult life has been spent at Leeds Rhinos and I am extremely grateful for all the support I have had over the past two decades. My goal now is to do whatever I can to make sure we have further success this year and finish the season and my Rhinos career on the best possible note.” | “My entire adult life has been spent at Leeds Rhinos and I am extremely grateful for all the support I have had over the past two decades. My goal now is to do whatever I can to make sure we have further success this year and finish the season and my Rhinos career on the best possible note.” |
| The Leeds Rhinos chief executive, Gary Hetherington, added: “If any player in the history of our club deserves the right to choose when he moves on to the next stage of his career it is Kevin Sinfield. | The Leeds Rhinos chief executive, Gary Hetherington, added: “If any player in the history of our club deserves the right to choose when he moves on to the next stage of his career it is Kevin Sinfield. |
| “He has been an inspirational leader on and off the field over the last decade and I think there can be little argument that the success we have enjoyed would not have been possible without him. | “He has been an inspirational leader on and off the field over the last decade and I think there can be little argument that the success we have enjoyed would not have been possible without him. |
| “Kevin was contracted for next season with the club and had always insisted that his Rhinos career would not go beyond that point. The fact that date has been brought forward 12 months may be a shock to some but we are happy to agree to his wishes and allow him to set a new challenge for himself with Yorkshire Carnegie.” | “Kevin was contracted for next season with the club and had always insisted that his Rhinos career would not go beyond that point. The fact that date has been brought forward 12 months may be a shock to some but we are happy to agree to his wishes and allow him to set a new challenge for himself with Yorkshire Carnegie.” |
| The Yorkshire Carnegie executive president, Sir Ian McGeechan, said: “I have admired Kevin Sinfield as both a player and an individual for many years. His professionalism, attitude and commitment are top class. I am sure he will be a great addition to our squad for next season and his goalkicking record speaks for itself. | |
| “The signing of Kevin Sinfield and the recent appointment of Bryan Redpath as head coach are clear indications of the ambition of our new management and owners. We look forward to having Kevin on board from November for our challenge to regain our place in the Premiership.” | “The signing of Kevin Sinfield and the recent appointment of Bryan Redpath as head coach are clear indications of the ambition of our new management and owners. We look forward to having Kevin on board from November for our challenge to regain our place in the Premiership.” |