THE WORLD of Rugby League is in shock after local player and Leeds Rhinos’ legend Kevin Sinfield’s decision to change codes at the age of 34.
It was only before the start of the 2015 First Utilities Super League season that Grotton-based Sinfield spoke about being tempted to change codes had he been 10 years younger.
Imagine the surprise, therefore, when less than two months into the campaign and Sinfield announced he will finish his career at sister club Yorkshire Carnegie having agreed an 18-month contract with Bryan Redpath’s second tier rugby union side.
Sinfield, who started his playing career at Waterhead, is on the brink of becoming only the fourth player in Leeds’ history to play 500 games for the club and is the all-time leading goal and points scorer in the club’s history.
He is currently fourth in the all time list of Rugby League points scorers and has led the Rhinos to 12 titles in 19 finals so far having been made captain in 2003 when he was just 22.
He has made 26 appearances for England, including captaining his country at the 2013 World Cup, and has made a further 14 appearances for Great Britain.
Sinfield, who has been informed he cannot give interviews until the end of the season about the change of code, told the Rhinos’ website: “This was one of the toughest decisions of my career, but I know the time is right for me to finish my time in Rugby League and embark on a new challenge with Yorkshire Carnegie.
“I never wanted to play against the Rhinos and throughout my career I have always had an admiration for Rugby Union and wanted to challenge myself in that code. I am fortunate as a professional player in this era that opportunities like this exist for me and it is something I want to grab with both hands.
“Sir Ian McGeechan, the new board and owners of Yorkshire Carnegie have set out ambitious plans to gain promotion from the Greene King IPA Championship next season and regain their place in the Aviva Premiership and that is something that excites me.
“It is a new challenge for me and I know I will have a lot to learn. However, we spend a lot of time with the Carnegie players at our training ground at Kirkstall so that will help me settle in. “My entire adult life has been spent at Leeds Rhinos and I am extremely grateful for all the support I have had over the past two decades.
“My goal now is to do whatever I can to make sure we have further success this year and finish the season and my Rhinos career on the best possible note.”
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