New path excites Sinfield

Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield will retire from rugby league at the end of the season to play union for Yorkshire Carnegie.

The 34-year-old former England skipper has led the Rhinos to six Super League titles, three World Club Challenges and one Challenge Cup success since making his debut for the club at the age of 16.

The Rhinos top the table after seven rounds of Super League XX but now face up to losing their two most inspirational players at the end of the campaign - Sinfield and Jamie Peacock, who last week confirmed he was taking up a management role at Hull KR.

For Sinfield, who has been nursing a hamstring injury in recent weeks, his new challenge will see him embark on a new chapter in his playing career, and it is one he is relishing.

"This season will be my last as a Rhinos player," he said. "I'm delighted to say I'm going to play rugby union for Yorkshire Carnegie.

"It's a challenge that really excites me and something I've wanted to do for a long time, but actually thought I'd never get the chance to do it.

"There's a new board in place at Yorkshire Carnegie that has set some high ambitions to take the club back to where it belongs in the Premiership. And with (Sir) Ian (McGeechan), a new head coach in Bryan Redpath and a fantastic director of rugby in Chris Gibson, it's something I want to be a part of going forward.

"It seems to me like the logical decision. I don't have to uproot my family and I know a lot of the guys at the club already, and know the support is in place to help with the transition.

"Looking at my Rhinos career, I'd like to thank Gary (Hetherington) and everybody who has played a part in my career to date. I've been here since I was a 13-year-old and the club means so much to me.

"But at some stage it has to end. It doesn't end quite yet - there's still seven months of the season left to play. "I'm very committed, like I've always been, and I'll ensure I do my best every day, going forward for the Rhinos and beyond that for Carnegie.

"My focus now is getting myself back fit and fighting for my spot back in the team, and to ensure 2015 for the Rhinos finishes in the right way."

Rhinos chief executive Hetherington said: "It certainly is a very significant announcement for Kevin, for Leeds Rhinos and for Yorkshire Carnegie. We all knew this day would come at some stage.

"Kevin has enjoyed a remarkable career. He has played for the Rhinos for 19 seasons and is soon to become only the fourth player to play over 500 games for the club.

"He is the record goal and points scorer for the club, captained the team in the last 13 seasons and led the team to 19 finals in what has been a golden era for the team.

"He is just 55 points short of becoming the third-highest points scorer in the game's history and captained England in the 2013 World Cup, making 40 international appearances for England and Great Britain overall.

"I'm delighted he will be staying at Headingley and embarking on a very exciting new chapter in his personal career, and also that in Yorkshire Carnegie. I hope he will continue his very successful record."

McGeechan , the Championship club's executive president, was delighted to hand the union outfit a boost amid a difficult season which sees them lie sixth in the second tier. "From Yorkshire Carnegie's perspective this is the fantastic news," said McGeechan.

"To have the opportunity to get somebody of Kev's quality, not just as a player but as a sportsman and captain and somebody whose values make him an exceptional role model.

"To now be able to harness that as part of our rugby union project here is a fantastic opportunity for us."