FORMER Harrogate Rugby Union Club flanker Simon Easterby has dismissed reports he could leave Llanelli to return to Yorkshire.

The Ireland international, who has set his sights on playing in this year's Rugby World Cup, has been linked to a closed season move to Leeds Tykes - the club he left to join Llanelli - or even to his adopted home of Ireland when his contract expires in the summer.

And although the Welsh rugby structure could be about to undergo a radical shake-up that could see the number of foreign players limited at each club, Easterby, who is originally from Tadcaster, has no wishes to leave the Principality.

"It is news to me," Easterby told the Evening Press about links to a move to the Tykes. "It's no secret that I'm out of contract in the summer and with the whole Welsh situation at the moment, the financing, and that the set-up might get restructured, Llanelli might not be able to have as many foreign players.

"So unfortunately they can't really do anything about my contract until they know themselves what is going to happen.

"Things can happen rapidly, but Llanelli have been brilliant to me, especially when it has come to releasing me for Ireland, and I'd love to stay.

"I love the club, the fans are absolutely great and the rugby is good, but then you never say never as a season is a long time.

"I think that the majority of the Ireland squad are back playing in the country now, but Llanelli have been superb in letting me go to the training camps and the games.

"To be honest, if you are playing well and the club are doing well, then the selectors can't really argue. As long as you keep performing on the pitch."

Having enjoyed a fruitful spell at Headingley after moving there from Harrogate, the ex-Ampleforth School pupil would consider a return to Leeds, but only if there was no contract from Llanelli.

And having helped guide the Welsh giants into the quarter-finals of the European Cup, it is easy to see why he wants to stay.

"If Leeds was an option, I'd certainly enjoy that chance, but I'd have to say I'd be very disappointed to leave Llanelli," he added.

Updated: 13:24 Wednesday, January 22, 2003