Sir Ian McGeechan will be at Leeds next term © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Ian McGeechan

Teams: England | Leeds Tykes

RFU Championship side Leeds Carnegie have appointed Sir Ian McGeechan as their new executive chairman.

McGeechan left Bath at the end of last season where he was in the role of director of rugby but Leeds have offered the Lions legend a path back into rugby and he has succeeded Paul Caddick with immediate effect.

During his playing days, McGeechan played for Headingley RFC and he will now work with director of rugby Chris Gibson and head coach Diccon Edwards.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to come back to where it all started for me and give something back to my club," McGeechan said. "I want to do everything I can to help develop the strong base there is already established here so that Yorkshire talent continues to be given an opportunity to shine at Leeds Carnegie.

"I have been involved with setting up and developing a number of academies in my career and as an ex-School master I know the potential of youth within the best possible structure. An important part of my role will be to build relationships with businesses, sponsors and clubs across Yorkshire to create ultimately a sustainable base to build professional rugby here in Yorkshire. The role of executive chairman is a new role for me but one that I am very excited about. I am keen to support the club in any way I can.

"I was fortunate in my early Headingley days to be guided by older, wiser players who helped shape me as an individual and now all these years on, things have come full circle and I have the opportunity to do exactly the same."

Leeds' CEO Gary Hetherington added: "Ian will have a number of key objectives that are not focused on coaching that he will be aiming to deliver on as we look to strengthen our business and fulfil our potential by returning to the Premiership. As well as his obvious rugby expertise, Ian will also work closely with our commercial director Rob Oates and business development manager John Bentley to attract new sponsors and partners to the club.

"Although he is well known for his connections to Scotland and the Lions, he is a passionate Yorkshireman and importantly passionate about Rugby Union in Yorkshire and his addition to our Board of Directors is a major boost to the county."