FORMER Selby RUFC head coach Diccon Edwards has been appointed the new boss at Leeds Carnegie.

Edwards, who had been serving as the Rugby Football Union’s National Academy coach, has been charged with getting the Headingley outfit back into the Aviva Premiership following their relegation last season.

The 38-year-old has taken over from Neil Back, who stood down after a final day defeat to Northampton, and will take up his new position on July 1 after assisting England Under-20 coach Rob Hunter, whose team compete in the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy.

Once a player with the Tykes as well as the club’s Academy manager, Edwards joined Selby as a six-year-old after his parents moved from London to North Yorkshire.

A member of the club’s Yorkshire Cup-winning U15 and U17 sides, he also had two stints as head coach at Sandhill Lane.

A centre, he also played for Wakefield, Leicester, Otley and rugby league with Castleford. He signed for York Wasps in 1999, but left the club without playing a game.

Edwards said: “The chance to come back to my club and help return us to the top flight was too good to resist and I feel the timing is right for me as a coach.

“Having been part of the club as a player and coach for nearly 15 years, it has been disappointing to see the side relegated last season.

“We now have the chance of a fresh start and the opportunity to build a team that the supporters and the Yorkshire public can be proud of.

“As a club we always build our strengths around our core values and we will be looking to get back to those.”

Leeds Carnegie chief executive Gary Hetherington added: “Diccon has a tremendous track record of developing talented players and also knows the National Leagues from his time as head coach at Otley.

“The board were impressed by his passion and determination to get us back into the Aviva Premiership at the earliest possible opportunity and that is our goal for next season.”