After bouncing around from the Guinness Premiership (now the Aviva Premiership) and the National Division One (now the RFU Championship), the West Yorkshire based club can finally look forward to two consecutive seasons at the highest table of English domestic rugby.

Not only that, but the survivors will now become a full shareholder in Premier rugby, after only receiving 60% of a share of revenue in 2009/10.

It is a welcome state of affairs after being relegated from the Premiership in 2006, winning the National Division One the following year, being relegated the year after that, before again winning the second tier title to gain promotion.

Their survival to ensure they remain in the top flight was essentially the second part of a three year plan.

Now that the first two boxes (get to the Premiership being the first, staying there being the second) have been ticked, they will now embark on the lofty goal of securing a top six finish, at the same time entering the heady air of the Heineken Cup.

It wasn’t easy for Neil Back and his tenacious side, having finished the season in tenth position meant they had to fight Worcester for relegation.

The Warriors, who had been in the Premiership for six years, were thought by many to have ridden their luck for two or three seasons, but despite scoring the only try of the match, went down to Leeds 12-10 thanks to the boot of Ceiron Thomas.

Ironically that match saw Leeds save their worst to last, and while there was plenty of guts and determination in their display, they were missing the workmanlike precision that had seen them take down one or two notable scalps.

Back was a relived man as he and his side celebrated their survival by the barest of margins.

“That was not the way we wanted to win,” he said.

“But we did. A loss would have been catastrophic.”

But there was enough shown throughout the season to suggest that Leeds, now that they can plot two seasons at the top in a row, could be more of a force this new season.

Last year, seven wins from 22 matches hardly anointed them as a contender, but some of their victories hinted at better things to come.

A season double over London Wasps was something that few sides would ever celebrate over the former Heineken Cup winners.

Their late charge, culminating in their two point triumph over Worcester, was their fourth win in seven matches, a run that saw them take down Wasps, Saracens and London Irish.

As good a collection of scalps as any team could wish to take.

They have strengthened their roster for the season ahead, with the most notable signing being Steve Thompson, who will compete with Andy Titterrell at hooker, in what looks to be a well rounded pack.

Despite the good will surrounding the club, they will be reminded from the onset as to how tough the Premiership can be, hosting Bath who smashed them 39-3 in their final match last year.

We’re not romantics here at heavensgame, and despite the desire to push for a top six position, we think that Leeds will probably finish 9th or 10th on the table.

Leeds 2010/11 squad

Phil Nilsen
Steve Thompson
Andy Titterrell
Rob Rawlinson
George Warner
Scott Freer
Jesus Moreno Rodriguez
Juan Gomez
Gareth Hardy
Mike MacDonald
Miguel Alonso
Philip Swainston
James Craig
Tom Denton
Sean Hohneck
Phil Murphy
Jonathan Pendlebury
Marco Wentzel (c)
Daniel Browne
Hendre Fourie
Kearnan Myall
Jacob Rowan
Alfie To'oala
Rhys Oakley
Danny Paul
Warren Fury
Scott Mathie
Dan White
Christian Lewis-Pratt
Ceiron Thomas
Scott Barrow
Luther Burrell
Lachie Mackay
Semi Tadulala
Lee Blackett
James Tincknell
Henry Fa'afili
Michael Stephenson
Jon Goodridge
Leigh Hinton
Peter Wackett

Squad movements

INS: Steve Thompson (Brive), Lachlan MacKay (Brive), Sean Hohneck (Viadana), Miguel Alonso (Viadana), Warren Fury (Wasps), Christian Lewis-Pratt (Northampton), Jesus Moreno Rodriguez (Bordeaux-Begles), Daniel Browne (Bath), Michael Stephenson (Bath), Semi Tadulala (Gloucester), James Tincknell (Wharfedale).

OUTS: Peter Bucknall (Leicester), Scott Armstrong (Northampton), Calum Clark (Northampton), Joe Ford (Northampton), Erik Lund (Biarritz Olympique), Seru Rabeni (La Rochelle), Villa Ma'asi (London Welsh), Jonny Hepworth (Rotherham), Richard Welding (Rotherham), Joe Bedford (Released), Jason Strange (Released), Rob Rawlinson (Retired), Alex Moreno (Retired), Andy Gomarsall (Retired).

Leeds results last season

Sep 6, 2009            Leeds Carnegie 9 - 9 Newcastle             
Sep 11, 2009         Worcester 27 - 7 Leeds Carnegie         
Sep 20, 2009         Leeds Carnegie 7 - 56 London Irish         
Sep 26, 2009         Northampton 30 - 10 Leeds Carnegie         
Oct 4, 2009         Leeds Carnegie 10 - 26 Gloucester         
Oct 25, 2009         Saracens 21 - 15 Leeds Carnegie         
Nov 1, 2009         London Wasps 9 - 15 Leeds Carnegie         
Nov 22, 2009         Leeds Carnegie 17 - 24 Sale         
Nov 28, 2009         Leicester 39 - 6 Leeds Carnegie         
Dec 4, 2009         Leeds Carnegie 27 - 30 Harlequins         
Dec 27, 2009         Newcastle 15 - 16 Leeds Carnegie         
Jan 2, 2010         Leeds Carnegie 15 - 20 Bath         
Feb 14, 2010         Leeds Carnegie 9 - 14 Leicester         
Feb 19, 2010         Sale 10 - 19 Leeds Carnegie         
Feb 28, 2010         Leeds Carnegie 26 - 10 London Wasps         
Mar 7, 2010         Leeds Carnegie 19 - 12 Saracens         
Mar 27, 2010         Gloucester 19 - 0 Leeds Carnegie         
Apr 3, 2010         Leeds Carnegie 7 - 14 Northampton         
Apr 10, 2010         Harlequins 46 - 11 Leeds Carnegie         
Apr 18, 2010         London Irish 13 - 23 Leeds Carnegie         
Apr 25, 2010         Leeds Carnegie 12 - 10 Worcester     
May 8, 2010         Bath 39 - 3 Leeds Carnegie

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