When can I start calling them Headingley? 

All jokes 

 aside since Headingley and Roundhay merged the club has been known as Leeds, Leeds Tykes, Leeds Carnegie, Yorkshire Carnegie and Leeds Tykes (again). What a mess!

On this note, what are people’s views on the way some rugby clubs add an extra word to the club name? I’ve never understood why Newcastle added Falcons or Sale with Sharks. I understand the historical association with Leicester and Tigers but generally I think it’s an awful Americanism we’ve brought over. 

But funnily enough, I was reminded of this sort of thing this morning.  On FB, I belong to a group centred on the small town I grew up in, which is Sedgley, about halfway between Dudley and Wolverhampton.  Someone posted a "buy this" in here, for a hoodie - the motif being that of Sedgley Tigers.  Nice guess, but the Tigers are really Sedgley Park, from Whitefield in Bury, many miles away.  I've seen the Tigers when they've come to play at Mose, of course, in those days they called themselves Sedgley Park, and "Tigers" was just the informal nickname.  Adopting it as their team name has now caused unnecessary geographical confusion.  And, to finish the story, the Sedgley with the DY3 postcode doesn't have a rugby team anyway.

Was there ever any money - I thought the reason for the merger was one of the clubs was bust and the other had no players - so it was merge or die for the pair.

And if we are talking name changs Newcastle was originally Gosforth.

Although AIUI West Park have since then put out a statement that it's all still being worked on, which suggests someone may have jumped the gun, especially given Otley were supposed to be sharing with West Park...

While there is definitely a huge emphasis on these 'nicknames' for marketing in a financial sense, it is also marketing as a tool to get and keep kids involved. A club like Sale fighting for people to watch them against all the nearby football/rugby league alternatives. To adults a human dressed up in a shark costume may not grab the attention, but it does for youngsters

Oh yes. If you weren’t in the know on such matters, you’d be forgiven for thinking Newcastle Falcons have always been called that. There’s rarely much mention of the club’s origins and history. People under the age of 25 may wonder why one of the stands has green and white seats.

Recently I had to pull the club up on the fact that they were rejoicing that their women’s team played their inaugural fixture this year. I told them they used to have a Ladies team from the late 80s until the early 90s - but was dismissed that was in the ‘Newcastle Gosforth’ days. Surely it’s the same club?! Or can they not be bothered to research their own history if it was pre 1995?

I understand the need to market a club (hence name changes to Leeds/Newcastle etc) but I don’t believe adding an animal to the end of the name endears it to kids so much that they’ll attend a game. 

The Sedgley point is interesting. More and more clubs at grassroots level have changed their names in recent years. I’m yet to see it make a difference...

So true. It's quite common all this pointless renaming here in the south east. We have Aylesford Bulls, Southend Saxons, London Irish Amateur calling themselves Wild Geese, Guernsey Raiders, Jersey Reds and of course the Civil Service can't decide if they're CS Rugby or CS Stags 1863 to name but a few. 

London Irish Wild Geese has a strong case for accuracy, it was used in the 16th - 18th Centuries to describe Irish soldiers who went abroad to fight. 

Some clubs have nicknames for their 2nd team as well to keep them different too!

Also sponsors quite often only interested in the top team so want to focus on them and no other team

A bit of trivia as to why Aylesford Bulls. The club was originally started in the http://thebullatlinton.co.uk/" rel="nofollow - Bull Inn in Linton  so there's a name with some history there. 

I know the bulls are based within ten miles of Leeds but back to the matter in hand.

Will whatever Headingley are called actually manage to get a team of any sort out to fulfil their fixtures - if we have any - and if they do what standard is it likely to be?

When I say Leeds I of course mean the Castle.

It has been a long time since we were able to connect with our followers on rugby matters, but there has been a lot going on in the background to rebuild. Enclosed in this newsletter is a summary of progress and more detail will unveiled as we move through the autumn months as we await the return to matches whenever that might be. 

AGREEMENT WITH WEST PARK LEEDS The superb facilities of West Park Leeds in Bramhope will be the Club’s new “home” it will provide the administrative base and training and medical facilities for the squad and match day venue for all home games bar one which, will be staged at Emerald Headingley Stadium. The agreement has been signed off today and Phil Davies commented “The forth coming season sees the re-set of Leeds Tykes and the move to West Park Leeds wonderful facilities is a crucial part of our future. We are looking to re-capture the spirit, camaraderie and work ethic of previous generations of Leeds Tykes players and supporters and West Park Leeds is the perfect place to successfully achieve our aims and ambitions. Huge thanks to all concerned at the club, from the President, Chairman, committee along with the club’s supporters we really look forward to being a positive influence at the club over the coming seasons.” West Park Leeds Chairman Graham Chadwick commented “We are delighted to welcome Leeds Tykes to the Sycamores to host their training and matches over the coming years. We have worked together closely in drawing up an agreement that will benefit the players, members and supporters of both clubs.” 

NAME CHANGE From Yorkshire Carnegie to Leeds Tykes! This has now been formalised with the RFU and the new website will be launched very soon together with other social media channels. 

CHANGES TO THE BOARD of DIRECTORS of LEEDS RUFC LTD By way of reminder, the Club is owned by the shareholders of Yorkshire Tykes Ltd (YTL) who have a Board of Directors, but this is a non-trading company simply focussed on raising shareholder funds to help fund the operating company Leeds RUFC. Chris Gibson who was the full time Managing Director of Leeds RUFC has stepped down after many years of service to the Club and Rob Oates and Suzanne Oakes (Company Secretary) have also resigned. I was the only Director to remain and I will now assume the Chief Executive responsibilities. Phil Davies has been appointed to the Board as Director of Rugby with overall responsibility for the entire rugby operation and Alistair Da Costa has taken over as Chairman, Alistair has served on the YTL Board for many years. And Mike Bidgood, who was involved in the formation of the Club returns as Company Secretary. Other appointments are likely to be made in due course. 

SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH LEEDS RHINOS For the past 13 years Leeds Rhinos have provided a range of training and matchday facilities at Kirkstall and Headingley along with staff support and resource from Commercial Sales, Marketing, PR/Media, HR, ticketing and matchday etc, and this arrangement has now come to an end. The Rhinos organisation will continue to provide some support and help to promote fixtures and events at Emerald Headingley Stadium but essentially Leeds Tykes are now dependant on their own resource. 

RUGBY PARTNERSHIPS Phil Davies has concluded a ground-breaking partnership with both Leeds University and Leeds Beckett University. Both university rugby departments and staff will be closely aligned and integrated with Leeds Tykes who will provide opportunities for elite players and staff members.

RUGBY SQUAD AND STAFF STRUCTURE The staff roles will soon be finalised and 22 players have been contracted for this season, including 10 retained from last season’s squad. More details will be announced soon. 

BUDGET National League Clubs receive only £3,000 from the RFU and the club will be operating on a break even budget. And so the Club can only spend the same amount as it can generate and for next season this is forecast to be £320,000, of which the shareholders will collectively provide £125,000. So a great incentive to generate as much income as possible from members, sponsorships and special events. 

COMMERCIAL PLAN This responsibility rests with me and my focus will be to encourage everyone connected to the Club to contribute whatever they can and also actively encourage friends to offer support. I would like to hear from you if you feel you could help by contacting me at gary.hetherington@leedsrugby.com 

SUMMARY We are about to embark on a reset of the Club. The lofty ambitions of Premiership rugby are for another day and for now we have to create a culture and spirit reminiscent of the former Leeds Tykes days when Phil Davies and then Stuart Lancaster were at the helm. Phil is back and will provide energy, experience and direction and the Club is very dependent on its small but loyal band of stakeholders to embrace this new beginning and play an active role in its future. I trust this update is of interest and I hope to hear from you soon with any thoughts and suggestions you may have.

 

And Leeds' nickname was the Loiners (and never the Rhinos)

I believe they intend filling in with Leeds Beckett students - who will be National 2 standard at best.

At least I hope they have 22 players plus the Leeds Beckett students.

I just can’t see Leeds Beckett players playing Bucs on a Wednesday/Nat 1 on a Saturday it would be to much for those young players.

I could see it happening if league Rugby kicks off in November as I’m led to believe the Bucs doesn’t start while January.

However Caldy are known throughout the rugby fraternity as the 'Ravers' .....nothing to do with marketing and everything to do with the fact they really know how to party and enjoy themselves..........they will do that with gusto if this season ever starts

Seems to be a local tradition .........

Caldy cricket club share a clubhouse/shack with Caldy Rugby Club and also make use of half of the 1st xv pitch for summer cricket..........they have had a decent side over the years..........they don;t spend much on grog though and nobody would ever call them the 'Ravers'

I hear that you turned the cricket section down on a “boat race” challenge, knowing you would most probably sink