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10 remaining employees at Yorkshire Carnegie academy all made redundant
By Online Editors
Yorkshire Rugby academy manager Ben Lazenby has taken to Twitter to express disappointment that the plug was pulled on the youth set-up at Yorkshire Carnegie, the struggling club recently relegated to National 1.
Despite Carnegie getting ushered out of the Championship on the back of a pitiful season featuring some avalanche-type results, there was still hope the academy programme, which produced talent such as England scrum-half Danny Care, could continue to exist after the club announced it was no longer able to fund it.
The RFU and Yorkshire RFU were apparently working to secure the pathway's future, but the financial strain of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in seven academy staff and three players being informed this week that it was being shut down.
An explanation on the Yorkshire RFU website read: "Pre-pandemic, a funding model had been agreed to maintain the academy programme in conjunction with a new partner. However, due to the considerable strain of Covid-19, this is unfortunately not currently possible.
"Yorkshire RFU and the RFU continue to look at other options to secure the long-term future of the programme and engage with potential partners. Both organisations are committed to ensuring a short and long-term development programme in Yorkshire that remains fully supportive of Yorkshire Rugby while helping those aspiring players progress to great things."
This claim that the programme could potentially restart in the future was of no solace to axed academy boss Lazenby. "Truly gutted things have ended like this," he wrote on Twitter. "I’ve had a rare opportunity to work with some exceptionally talented people and players over the past five years and there are so many positives and memories to take from this rollercoaster.
"I can’t emphasise enough how dedicated, driven and diligent my colleagues have been in the face of adversity over the last twelve to 18 months and how the players inspired us to keep the show on the road. I hope something is put in place to support Yorkshire players to achieve their potential and would love to play even a small part in that.
"For now I’d just like to thank everyone who has supported us through the years but most importantly my colleagues and friends in the academy - the best in the business. It has been a blast."
Yorkshire Carnegie didn’t win a Championship game all last season and earned just two losing bonus points. Their points difference ended up at minus 528, an average losing margin of over 37 points a game.
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Latest Comments
Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
Go to commentsFair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.
SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.
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