View source for Leeds Tykes

{{Short description|English rugby union football club}}
{{For-text|the cricket team|[[Yorkshire County Cricket Club]]|other clubs with a similar name|[[Leeds Carnegie]]}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby team
|teamname       = Leeds Tykes 
|image          = Leeds Tykes Logo.png
|imagesize      = 200
|fullname       = Leeds Tykes Rugby Union Football Club
|union          = [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire RFU]]
|founded        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1991}}
|ground         = The Sycamores
|location       = [[Bramhope]], [[West Yorkshire]], [[England]]
|capacity       = 1,500
|chairman       = 
|rugby director = [[Peter Seabourne (rugby union)|Peter Seabourne]]
|coach          = 
|captain        = Adam Brown
|league         = [[National League 2 North]]
|season         = [[2023–24 National League 2 North|2023–24]]
|position       = Runners up
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|url         = https://www.leeds-tykes.com/
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'''Leeds Tykes''' (formerly '''Leeds RUFC''', '''Leeds Carnegie''' and '''Yorkshire Carnegie''') is an English [[rugby union]] club in [[Leeds]], [[West Yorkshire]], England, playing in the [[National League 2 North]].

The club was founded as Headingley FC, but renamed in 1991 when it joined with Roundhay RUFC to form Leeds RUFC. In 1998, the club merged with [[Leeds Rhinos]] to form [[Leeds Rugby Limited]], also known as Leeds Tykes. In 2007, [[Leeds Metropolitan University]] bought a 51% stake in the club and changed the name to fit with the university's sport department, Carnegie College.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6653619.stm|title=University buys into Leeds Tykes |work=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2007|access-date=18 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk/leedstykes/news/news-story.asp?Index=4047|title=Ground Breaking Ownership for Leeds Rugby|publisher=Leeds Rugby Limited|date=14 May 2007|access-date=14 May 2007}}{{dead link|date=October 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> At the end of the 2008–09 season, ownership of the club passed back into the hands of Leeds Rugby. They are now called Leeds Tykes.

Leeds have bounced between the Premiership and the second-level National Division One, now known as the [[RFU Championship]]; they were either [[promotion and relegation|promoted or relegated]] in four consecutive seasons starting in 2006. Leeds were relegated from the Premiership as bottom finishers in [[2005–06 English Premiership (rugby union)|2006]], promoted as National Division One champions in [[National Division One 2006–07|2007]], relegated again from the Premiership in [[2007–08 English Premiership (rugby union)|2008]], and promoted a second time as National Division One champions in [[National Division One 2008–09|2009]]. They managed to stay in the Premiership in the [[2009–10 English Premiership (rugby union)|2009–10 season]], which helped to secure their financial future; from the 2010–11 season, they became a full shareholder in Premier Rugby, the company behind the Premiership. In 2009–10, they only received 60% of a full share of Premiership revenues.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC Sport|date=23 April 2010|access-date=7 May 2010|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leeds/8638658.stm|title=Premiership survival better than World Cup – Neil Back}}</ref> Their P shares in Premiership Rugby were sold to [[Exeter Chiefs]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=News – Yorkshire Carnegie {{!}} Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds|url=https://yorkshirecarnegie.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112202056/http://yorkshirecarnegie.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 January 2017|access-date=14 June 2020|website=Yorkshire Carnegie}}</ref>

==History==

===1877–1900s: Headingley and Roundhay===
[[Headingley]] has a tradition of rugby that started back in 1877, when several youngsters became interested in rugby after watching Leeds St. John's, later to become the [[Leeds Rhinos]] [[rugby league]] team. Their first game was in November against the Saints second team. Union was centred around a church club. The original rugby union team was Leeds St John's and it played at the Militia Barracks ground before moving to Cardigan Fields. The Headingley name was adopted in 1878 and Cardigan Fields was used for both rugby and cricket. On 5 January 1884, England played Wales there and won 5–3 with a crowd in the region of 2,000 in attendance. The club playing there was then disbanded but was re-formed again in 1885 under the auspices of the Headingley Hill Chapel Sunday Class and played matches on local fields against local teams, including [[Roundhay]].

In 1888, the Cardigan Estate was sold at auction and Lot 17a was purchased by a group of Leeds citizens, who intended to form the city's leading sports club. Lot 17a became what is now Headingley Stadium. Leeds St John's played their final season under that name in 1889–90, before becoming the football section of Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic Company Ltd the following season. With Headingley still being completed, Leeds' first game was staged at Cardigan Fields, the home side defeating Otley. The first game at Headingley was played on 20 September 1890, when Manningham were beaten by one try and one dropped goal to nil. Leeds were founder members of the Northern Union when it broke away from the Rugby Football Union in 1895. Leeds' début in the Northern Union was a 6–3 victory at Leigh on 7 September 1895, the inaugural day of the new competition.

The development of the playing fields into the Headingley ground was down to [[Lord Hawke]], who was also behind the creation of the Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic Company and the purchase of lot 17A of the Cardigan Estate. (Lord Hawke captained England and Yorkshire at cricket). However, this saw the demise of the Leeds club which split into two. The part that was to become the Rugby League club in 1895-6 stayed at the Headingley ground and Headingley RUFC was reborn in 1891, eventually finishing up in 1902 in Clarence Fields, Kirkstall. Two other internationals were played in Leeds before the split between Union and League, against Ireland and Scotland, both ending in defeat.

In 1889, Headingley was disbanded when Leeds St. John's moved into the area, built [[Headingley Rugby Stadium]] and dropped the St. John's from their name. However, Headingley bounced back and found fixtures outside [[Yorkshire]], in 1901 their fixture list including a game against the famous [[Blackheath Rugby Club]]. Roundhay were formed in 1924 and moved to their ground at Chandos Park in the 1930s. Forty internationals have played for one team or the other perhaps the best known being [[Peter Winterbottom]], [[Ian McGeechan]] and [[Chris Rea (rugby union)|Chris Rea]], who played for Headingley. Former Scotland coach [[Frank Hadden]] also had a spell at Headingley, where his and McGeechan's playing paths crossed, at the tail end of his career. [[Brian Moore (rugby union)|Brian Moore]] played for [[Roundhay]] before his move to [[Nottingham RFC|Nottingham]] and selection for England.

====Headingley honours====
* [[Langholm Sevens]]
** Champions (2): 1968, 1971

Headingley was the first English team to win the Langholm Sevens.

===1991–1997: Leeds RUFC===
Leeds RUFC was founded in 1991 after the merger of Roundhay and Headingley; [[Morley R.F.C.|Morley RFC]] was also invited to join but declined. The new club played their first match on 1 September 1992 against [[Hull Ionians]]. The first try was scored by Glynn Thompson, previously of Roundhay. [[Richard Cardus]], [[Bev Dovey]], Denis Wilkins and [[Keith Smith (rugby)|Keith Smith]] all won international caps while in the Roundhay ranks. Smith featured in England's first full tour of Australia in 1975, but had to return home injured and Wilkins, who was also in the Royal Navy, won 13 caps, between 1951 and 1953. When they amalgamated in 1991–92, both clubs were in National Division Three.

In the first season in National Three, Leeds finished 6th, but League reorganisation put the club in National Division Four, with finishes of 6th, 6th and 5th in 1995–96. The following season, they finished 3rd, scoring 1,209 points in thirty games, with the former England 'A' outside-half [[Gerry Ainscough]] scoring 307 points, and the ex-Scotland 'A' utility back Mark Appleson scoring sixteen tries. In 1997–98, they were promoted from the newly formed Jewson One to Premiership Two, finishing runners-up to Worcester. The Tongan Sateki Tuipulotu scored a then club record 322 points.

===1998–2006: Leeds Tykes===
In 1998, the club amalgamated with [[Leeds Rhinos]] to form ''Leeds Rugby Limited''. Leeds RUFC took on a new name when they entered the 1998 Premiership Two competition, Leeds Tykes.

The Tykes finished 6th in their first season in Premiership Two with the Tongan scoring 250 points and [[Simon Middleton]] and Jonathan Scales scoring ten tries apiece. Since 1996, the Tykes have played at Leeds Rhinos' Headingley stadium and [[Phil Davies (rugby union)|Phil Davies]] became their player-coach. In their first season, they finished 8th in a twelve team division. They were promoted to the [[Guinness Premiership|Premiership]] in 2001. In gaining promotion Richard Le Bas scored 337 points and Graham Mackay, a product of Leeds Rhinos, scored 19 tries, both club season records still extant.

In 2001, [[Tom Palmer (rugby union)|Tom Palmer]] became the first Leeds Tykes player to be capped for England when he appeared as a replacement against the United States. The Leeds Tykes team for their first game in the Premiership on 2 September 2001 against [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] was Shelley, Holt, Wring, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather, Ponton, Fea'unati, Benton, Bachop, Emmerson, Woof, Mayer, Scarbrough, Benson. The replacements were Hogg for Mather (74), Davies for Fea'unati (75), Kerr for Fea'unati (26), O'Reilly for Mayer (73), Fea'unati for Kerr (33). Not used were Luffman, Clarke, Le Bas.

The Tykes survived their first season after finishing bottom of the league when the [[National League 1]] champions were denied entry into the Premiership in 2002 (Champions [[Rotherham R.U.F.C.|Rotherham Titans]] were refused promotion to the [[Guinness Premiership|Zurich Premiership]] for the 2002–03 season due to facilities failing to meet Premiership criteria). The next season Leeds finished fifth in the table and made their [[Heineken Cup]] début in December 2003. In their four seasons in the Zurich Premiership, they finished an average ninth and reached two domestic cup semi-finals.

In 2005, they were mid-table by early November, but at the turn of the year, following injuries to key players, they were bottom of the Zurich Premiership and some way adrift of their rivals. Despite the threat of relegation, they made it to their first [[EDF Energy Cup|Powergen Cup]] final. They faced Bath who were top of the table and had never been beaten in a cup final, winning 20–12 to claim their first trophy.

Following the cup win, they won five straight games and avoided the drop by finishing eighth. Phil Davies relinquished control of some coaching duties to concentrate on his role as Director of Rugby in 2005 following another poor start to the season which saw the Tykes lose their first eight games in three different competitions.

After losing three successive away matches in injury time to [[Northampton Saints]], [[Sale Sharks]] and [[Leicester Tigers]], in January 2006 former Rugby League international [[Daryl Powell]] was promoted from the back room staff to First Team coach. Leeds were finally relegated after Newcastle Falcons beat Sale Sharks. Following relegation, Marshall was transfer listed by request and [[Mike Shelley]] announced his retirement. Other players who left were: [[Iain Balshaw]], [[Chris Bell (rugby union)|Chris Bell]], [[Gordon Bulloch]], [[Danny Care]], [[Andy Craig]], David Doherty, Dan Hyde, Mark McMillan, [[Tom Palmer (rugby union)|Tom Palmer]], [[Richard Parks]], [[Roland Reid]], [[Gordon Ross (rugby union)|Gordon Ross]], [[David Rees (rugby union, born 1974)|David Rees]], Roland De Marigny, [[Scott Morgan (rugby union)|Scott Morgan]], [[Chris Murphy (rugby league)|Chris Murphy]] and Nathan Thomas. Players who remained at club were: [[Tom Biggs]], [[Lee Blackett]], [[Michael Cusack (rugby union)|Michael Cusack]], [[Jon Dunbar]], [[Stuart Hooper]], [[James Isaacson]], Chris Jones, Rob Rawlinson and Rob Vickerman. At the end of April 2006, [[Phil Davies (rugby union)|Phil Davies]] resigned as Director of Rugby to be replaced by academy coach [[Stuart Lancaster (rugby)|Stuart Lancaster]].

The new players signed for the new season under Lancaster were [[Leigh Hinton]] from [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]], [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] centre [[Jonny Hepworth]], wing/full-back Richard Welding from [[Cornish Pirates]], scrum-half [[Jacob Rauluni]] ex-Earth Titans and Bristol, scrum-half [[Darren Edwards]] from [[London Irish]], winger [[John Holtby]] from Earth Titans, and centre Anitelia Tuilagi, on loan from [[Leicester Tigers]]. New forwards include flanker [[Mark Lock]] from [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]], Argentinian 7s and ex-[[Plymouth Albion R.F.C.|Plymouth Albion]] flanker [[Martín Schusterman]], Former [[Bristol Rugby]] No 8 [[Rhys Oakley]] from Newport Gwent Dragons, hooker [[James Parkes (rugby union)|James Parkes]] from Gloucester and props [[United States national rugby union team|USA international]] [[Mike MacDonald (rugby union)|Mike MacDonald]], ex-Worcester who helped the Eagles to qualify for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|World Cup]], and [[Colin Noon]] from [[Biarritz Olympique|Biarritz]].

===2007–2013: Leeds Carnegie RUFC===
In 2007, the club was renamed as Leeds Carnegie in a deal with Leeds Metropolitan University, which took a 51% stake. Carnegie College is part of the university's sport department. Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster said: "I am delighted by the announcement. This is another hugely significant step in our evolution."

In 2008, Lancaster left Leeds to take a job at the RFU, replaced by England World Cup winner [[Neil Back]], and [[Andy Key (rugby union)|Andy Key]], both of whom were previously on the coaching staff at [[Leicester Tigers]].

In May 2009, Leeds Carnegie announced that it had restructured for the Premiership.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8051880.stm|work=BBC News|title=Leeds restructure for Premiership|date=15 May 2009|access-date=7 May 2010}}</ref> Leeds Met University returned its 51% stake in Leeds Carnegie and Leeds Rugby retook full control.<ref>{{cite news|work=Yorkshire Post|url= http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Now-Leeds-Met-pulls-out.5270923.jp|title=Now Leeds Met pulls out of rugby club as jobs are axed|first1=John|last1=Roberts|first2=John|last2=Ledger|date=15 May 2009|access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> The restructuring saw former Wales and British and Irish Lions international [[Gareth Davies (rugby union)|Gareth Davies]] join a new board of directors representing the university.
[[File:Leeds Carnegie 2011-12 Official Team Photo.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Leeds Carnegie 2011–12]]

===2014–2020: Yorkshire Carnegie===
In 2014, the club was rebranded as Yorkshire Carnegie.<ref>{{cite news|title=Leeds Carnegie to change name to Yorkshire Carnegie from next season|agency=Press Association|work=The Guardian|date=11 February 2014|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/11/leeds-carnegie-change-name-yorkshire-carnegie|access-date=22 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New era dawns for Yorkshire Carnegie |work=rfu.com |publisher=Rugby Football Union |date=10 July 2014 |access-date=22 July 2014 |url=http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/july/news-articles/100714_yorkshire |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809034948/http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/july/news-articles/100714_yorkshire |archive-date=9 August 2014 }}</ref>
They also struck a two-year sponsorship deal with Satsuma Loans at a reported £300,000 per year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Loans agrees sponsorship deal with Yorkshire Carnegie Rugby|url=http://www.yorkshirecarnegie.com/news/23752.php|access-date=24 September 2014|publisher=Yorkshire Carnegie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216145242/http://www.yorkshirecarnegie.com/news/23752.php|archive-date=16 February 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref> 
In 2019 they announced that the club had lost key investors and that they were looking for new investments. On 9 April 2019 the players and staff were told that as of the start of the 2019–20 season the club would be returning to part-time status.<ref>{{cite web |last=Westby |first=Nick |title=Yorkshire Carnegie to go part-time as cost of chasing the Premiership dream proves too much |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/yorkshire-carnegie-to-go-part-time-as-cost-of-chasing-the-premiership-dream-proves-too-much-1-9701384 |website=The Yorkshire Post |access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref> It was also confirmed the club would rebrand ahead of the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=News – Yorkshire Carnegie {{!}} Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds|url=https://yorkshirecarnegie.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112202056/http://yorkshirecarnegie.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 January 2017|access-date=6 July 2020|website=Yorkshire Carnegie}}</ref>

===2020– present: return to Leeds Tykes===
In September 2020, it was confirmed that the club had reverted to the '''Leeds Tykes''' ahead of the (eventually cancelled) 2020–21 National League 1 season. They will also leave Headingley Stadium and base themselves at '''The Sycamores''', home of West Park Leeds RUFC. However, they intend to still play some games at Headingley.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yorkshire Carnegie renamed Leeds Tykes|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53996428|access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref>

==Home ground==
===The Sycamores===
The club based itself at The Sycamores, home of West Park Leeds RUFC ahead of the 2021–22 season.

===Headingley Rugby Stadium===
[[File:Extentia Stand-Headingley Rugby.jpg|thumb|200px|The new Carnegie Stand at the rugby ground.]]

In July 1998 Leeds RUFC became part of the world's first dual-code rugby partnership, ''Leeds Rugby Limited'' and began playing at [[Headingley Stadium]], home of [[Leeds Rhinos]].

Leeds St. Johns, who were later to become Leeds Rugby League Football Club, then Leeds Rhinos, moved to Headingley in 1889 and built [[Headingley Rugby Stadium]]. Since then the stadium has staged more than forty [[rugby league]] international matches and countless domestic finals. Undersoil heating was installed in 1963, and [[Floodlights (sport)|floodlight]]s in 1966. New changing rooms were added in 1991.

On Saturday 13 August 2005, Headingley hosted back-to-back union and league games. The Tykes played Edinburgh in a friendly followed by a Super League game between the Rhinos and London. 2006 saw the construction of the Carnegie Stand. Built to replace the old eastern terrace, it was opened on 1 September 2006 for the [[Super League]] match between [[Leeds Rhinos]] and [[Warrington Wolves]]. The ground now has a capacity of 22,250.

The record attendance at Headingley Rugby Stadium was 40,175 for the rugby league match between Leeds and Bradford Northern on 21 May 1947. The highest attendance for a Tykes match was against Newcastle Falcons on 27 December 2004, with a crowd of 14,293 at Headingley to see the Falcons take home a 15–11 victory.  In 2006 a new sponsorship deal with Leeds Metropolitan University led to Headingley Stadium being renamed Headingley Carnegie Stadium. In November 2017 it again changed its name to Emerald Headingley Stadium, just after a major rebuilding project started to replace both main pitchside stands, completed in 2019.

Leeds Tykes moved out of the ground soon afterwards. It remains the home of the Rhinos.

==Current standings==
{{2024–25 National League 2 North}}

<!--==Current squad==
The Leeds Tykes squad for the [[2020–21 National League One|2020–21 season]] is:<ref name="Yorkshire Carnegie {{!}} First Team Profiles">{{cite web | url=http://yorkshirecarnegie.com/rugby/first-team-profiles/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131233700/http://yorkshirecarnegie.com/rugby/first-team-profiles | url-status=usurped | archive-date=31 January 2017 | title=Yorkshire Carnegie {{!}} First Team Profiles | work=Yorkshire Carnegie | access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref>

{{rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Jake Brady]]}}
{{rugby squad end}}
-->

==Notable former players==

===British & Irish Lions===
The following Leeds players have been selected for the [[British & Irish Lions|Lions tours]] while at the club:

* [[John Spencer (rugby union, born 1947)|John Spencer]] ([[1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia|1971]])
* [[Ian McGeechan]] ([[1974 British Lions tour to South Africa|1974]] & [[1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1977]])
* [[Peter Winterbottom]] ([[1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1983]])
* [[Iain Balshaw]] ([[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|2005]])

===Rugby World Cup===
The following are players which have represented their countries at the [[Rugby World Cup]] whilst playing for Leeds:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Tournament
!Players selected
!{{nrut|England}} players
!Other national team players
|-
|[[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]]
|1
|[[Peter Winterbottom]]
|
|-
|[[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]]
|1
|
|[[Sateki Tu'ipulotu]] {{flagicon|TON}}
|-
|[[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]]
|7
|[[Mark Regan]]
|[[Diego Albanese]] {{flagicon|ARG}}, [[Kees Lensing]] {{flagicon|NAM}}, [[Gordon Ross (rugby union)|Gordon Ross]] {{flagicon|Scotland}}, [[Alix Popham]] {{flagicon|WAL}}, [[Aaron Persico]] {{flagicon|ITA}}, [[Winston Stanley (rugby union, born 1974)|Winston Stanley]] {{flagicon|CAN}}
|-
|[[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]]
|4
|
|[[Fosi Pala'amo]], [[Anitelea Tuilagi|Anitele'a Tuilagi]] {{flagicon|SAM}}, [[Mike MacDonald (rugby union)|Mike MacDonald]] {{flagicon|USA}}, [[Martín Schusterman]] {{flagicon|ARG}}
|-
|[[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]]
|1
|
|[[Mike MacDonald (rugby union)|Mike MacDonald]] {{flagicon|USA}}
|}

===Other notable former players===
The following players have played for Leeds and have 10 or more caps for their national side or other significant accomplishments.
{| style="width:100%;"
|-
| style="width:34%; vertical-align:top;" |
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Carl Aarvold|Sir Carl Aarvold]], [[England national rugby union team|England]] Captain and [[British & Irish Lions]] captain
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Danny Care]], [[England national rugby union team|England]] 
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Andy Gomarsall]], [[England national rugby union team|England]] 
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Simon Middleton]], [[World Rugby Coach of the Year|2021 World Rugby Coach of the Year]]
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Tom Palmer (rugby union)|Tom Palmer]], [[England national rugby union team|England]] 
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Tim Stimpson]], [[England national rugby union team|England]] and [[British & Irish Lions]]
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Stuart Lancaster (rugby union)|Stuart Lancaster]], [[England national rugby union team|England]] head coach 2011–2015
*{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Dan Crowley (rugby union)|Dan Crowley]], [[Australia]]
*{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Wendell Sailor]], [[Australia]]
*{{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Jacob Rauluni]], [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]]
*{{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Seru Rabeni]], [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]]
*{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Simon Easterby]], [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and [[British & Irish Lions]]
| style="vertical-align:top; width:33%;" |
*{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Stephen Bachop]], [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] and [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Black]] #925
*{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Justin Marshall]], [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Black]] #948
*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Erik Lund (rugby union)|Erik Lund]], [[Norway national rugby union team|Norway]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Gordon Bulloch]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[British & Irish Lions]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Andy Craig]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Duncan Hodge]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Gavin Kerr]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Tony Stanger]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[British & Irish Lions]]
*{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Phil Davies (rugby union)|Phil Davies]], [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]
*{{flagicon|England}} [[Kevin Sinfield]], [[England national rugby league team|England]] and [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
*{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[André Snyman]], [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
*{{Flagicon|South Africa}} [[Braam van Straaten]], [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|}

==Personnel==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Leeds Tykes
! colspan="3" |Leeds Tykes Squad for the 2023–24 season<ref>{{Cite web |title=coaches and players – Leeds Tykes RUFC |url=https://www.leeds-tykes.com/squad/team/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|
=== Hookers ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Adam Brown
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Aarin Yorke
* {{Ruicon|WAL}} Max Thatcher
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Sam Stoddart

=== Prop ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Alex Fishwick
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Daniel Grant
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Henry Derbyshire
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Jordan Cordice
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Tobi Ademakin
* {{Ruicon|DEU}} '''[[Toby Williams (rugby union)|Toby Williams]]'''
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Will Dennis

=== Locks ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Charlie Friend
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Chris Bell
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Jack Gilmartin
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Jake Brady
|
=== Backrows ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Eddie Brown
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Tom Collins
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Ollie Kenyon
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Jonny Teague
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Lucas Walsh
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Ben Whyman

=== Scrum-halves ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Ewan Laughton
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Henry Mcnab
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Kit Keith
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Will Hardwick

=== Fly-halves ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Ben Turpin
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Kieran Davies  
|
=== Centres ===

* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Ben Dixon
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Jacob Mounsey
* {{Ruicon|SAM}} Junior Nu'u
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Ewan Evans

=== Wingers ===

* {{Ruicon|WAL}} Harry Jukes
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} James Magee
* {{Ruicon|FJI}} Seremaia Bai Turagabeci
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Tom Williams

=== Fullbacks ===

* {{Ruicon|JAM}} Cameron Melville
* {{Ruicon|ENG}} Charlie Venables
|-
| colspan="3" |
|}

===Coaching and medical staff===
*Director of Rugby: Pete Seabourne

== Honours ==
*'''[[Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)|Yorkshire Cup]] (3):'''
**Winners: 1998, 2006, 2009
*'''[[National Division One]] (3):'''
**Champions: [[2000–01 National Division One|2000–01]], [[2006–07 National Division One|2006–07]], [[2008–09 National Division One|2008–09]]
*'''[[EDF Energy Cup|Powergen Cup]]:'''
**Champions: [[2004–05 Powergen Cup|2005]]
*'''[[European Shield]]:'''
**Semi-finalists: [[2004–05 European Shield|2004–05]]
*'''[[British and Irish Cup]]'''
**Runner-up: [[2015–16 British and Irish Cup|2015–16]]

==Statistics and records==
:From [http://www.leedsrugby.com/ Leedsrugby.com]
{| style="width:100%;"
|-
|style="width:34%; vertical-align:top;"|
*League records
*'''Highest scoring match:'''
*'''104–0''' v Manchester 08/04/09
*'''Largest winning margin:'''
*'''104''' v Manchester 08/04/09
*'''Most points in a match:'''
*'''31''' Braam van Straaten v London Irish 08/09/02
*'''27''' [[Gerry Ainscough]] v Rosslyn Park 14/9/96
*'''Most tries in a match:'''
*'''5''' Simon Middleton v Morley 14/2/96
*'''Most conversions in a match:'''
*'''12''' Jason Strange v Manchester 08/04/09
*'''9''' [[Gerry Ainscough]] v Clifton 07/12/96
*'''9''' Richard Le Bas v Orrell 17/3/01
*'''Most penalties in a match:'''
*'''9''' Braam van Straaten v London Irish 08/08/02
*'''Most drop goals in a match:'''
*'''3''' Joe Ford v Rotherham Titans 25/11/11
*'''Fastest ever Premiership try:'''
*'''8.26 seconds''' Lee Blackett v [[Newcastle Falcons]] 21/3/08
|style="vertical-align:top; width:33%;"|
*Cup records
*'''Highest scoring cup match:'''
*'''100–0''' v Morley 21/10/01
*'''96–6''' v Redruth 2/11/96
*'''Most points in a cup match:'''
*'''35''' Richard Le Bas v Morley 21/10/01
*'''Most tries in a cup match:'''
*'''5''' Wendell Sailor v Rugby Lions 14/11/98
*'''Most conversions in a cup match:'''
*'''10''' Richard Le Bas v Morley 21/10/01
*'''Most penalties in a cup match:'''
*'''5''' Dan Eddie v Fylde 4/11/96
*'''Most senior appearances:'''
*'''244''' [[Mike Shelley]]
|}

==Season summary==
===League===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:250px;"|Season
! style="width:40px;"|Pld
! style="width:40px;"|W
! style="width:40px;"|D
! style="width:40px;"|L
! style="width:40px;"|F
! style="width:40px;"|A
! style="width:35px;"|+/-
! style="width:30px;"|BP
! style="width:40px;"|Pts
! style="width:20px;"|Pos
! style="width:80px;"|Notes
|-
|align=left| [[2021–22 National League 1]]
|28||9||1||18||635||789||−154||21||59||'''13th'''|| 
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=left| [[2019–20 RFU Championship]]
|13{{efn|Season ended prematurely due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and final points were awarded on a ''best playing record formula.''}}||0||0||13||166||647||−481||2||2.75||'''12th'''|| '''Relegated'''
|-
|align=left| [[2018–19 RFU Championship]]
|22||11||0||11||475||549||−74||11||55||'''6th'''|| 
|-
|align=left| [[2017–18 RFU Championship]]
|22||12||2||8||518||547||−29||11||63||'''6th'''||
|-
|align=left| [[2016–17 RFU Championship]]
|20||15||0||5||619||461||158||14||74||'''2nd'''||'''Finalist'''
|-
|align=left| [[2015–16 RFU Championship]]
|22||14||0||8||655||466||189||22||78||'''3rd'''||'''Semi-finalist'''
|-
|align=left| [[2014–15 RFU Championship]]
|22||10||1||11||494||462||32||0||54||'''6th'''||
|-
|align=left| [[2013–14 RFU Championship]]
|23||18||0||5||700||387||313||0||84||'''3rd'''||
|-
|align=left| [[2012–13 RFU Championship]]
|22||13||0||9||585||480||105||0||67||'''4th'''||
|-
|align=left| [[2011–12 RFU Championship]]
|22||13||1||8||470||505||−35||0||60||'''6th'''||
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=left| [[2010–11 Aviva Premiership]]
|22||4||0||18||315||590||−275||7||23||'''12th'''||'''Relegated'''
|-
|align=left| [[2009–10 Guinness Premiership]]
|22||7||1||14||283||493||−210||6||36||'''10th'''||
|- style="background:#abcdef;"
|align=left| [[2008–09 National Division One]]
|30||28||0||2||1238||376||863||21||133||'''1st'''||'''Promoted'''
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=left| [[2007–08 Guinness Premiership]]
|22||2||1||19||336||732||−396||2||12||'''12th'''||'''Relegated'''
|- style="background:#abcdef;"
|align=left| [[2006–07 National Division One]]
|30||24||2||4||960||474||486||23||123||'''1st'''||'''Promoted'''
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=left| [[2005–06 Guinness Premiership]]
|22||5||0||17||363||573||−210||8||28||'''12th'''||'''Relegated'''
|-
|align=left| [[2004–05 English Premiership (rugby union)|2004–05 Zurich Premiership]]
|22||9||0||13||380||431||−51||7||43||'''8th'''||
|-
|align=left| [[2003–04 English Premiership (rugby union)|2003–04 Zurich Premiership]]
|22||7||1||14||449||588||−139||7||37||'''11th'''||
|-
|align=left| [[2002–03 English Premiership (rugby union)|2002–03 Zurich Premiership]]
|22||12||2||8||478||435||43||6||58||'''5th'''||
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=left| [[2001–02 English Premiership (rugby union)|2001–02 Zurich Premiership]]
|22||6||0||16||406||654||−248||4||28||'''12th'''||
|- style="background:#abcdef;"
|align=left| [[2000–01 National Division One]]
|26||24||0||2||1,032||407||625||1||116||'''1st'''||'''Promoted'''
|-
|align=left| [[1999–2000 National Division One]]
|26||22||0||4||792||269||523||1||44||'''2nd'''||
|-
|align=left| [[1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two|1998–1999 National Division One]]
|26||16||0||10||713||367||346||1||32||'''6th'''||
|}

===Cups===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:180px;"|Competition
! style="width:20px;"|Pld
! style="width:20px;"|W
! style="width:20px;"|D
! style="width:20px;"|L
! style="width:20px;"|F
! style="width:20px;"|A
! style="width:20px;"|Notes
|- style="background:thistle;"
|align=left| '''Powergen Cup'''
|11||5||1||5||297||274||'''Winners 2005'''
|-
|align=left| '''Heineken Cup'''
|12||5||0||7||209||213||
|-
|align=left| '''European Challenge Cup'''
|31||18||2||11||832||601||'''Quarter-finalists 2007/8'''
|-
|align=left| '''European Shield'''
|6||4||1||1||324||106||'''Semi-finalists 2004/5'''
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website}}
*[https://archive.today/20130505132503/http://www.tykesrugby.co.uk/ Independent Tykes fans site and message board]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080827200656/http://www.leedscsa.co.uk/ Leeds Carnegie Supporters Association]

{{National League 2 North}}
{{National League 1}}
{{English Premiership (rugby union)}}

[[Category:Leeds Tykes| ]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in England]]
[[Category:Premiership Rugby teams]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1991]]
[[Category:Sport in Leeds]]
[[Category:Leeds Carnegie]]