Neil Back has made a shock return to rugby with National League Three Midlands outfit Rugby Lions.
Former Leeds boss determined to lead Rugby Lions up the leagues
Neil Back has made a shock return to rugby with National League Three Midlands outfit Rugby Lions.
Back had been out of work after leaving Leeds at the end of the season, with Carnegie having been relegated from the Aviva Premiership.
However he has now signed a five-year contract with the Lions, with Back determined to guide the highly-ambitious outfit into the top-flight.
Rugby are being bankrolled by Michael Aland, with the former player and businessman having sold his vision to Back.
"This is an incredible challenge and one which, after a great deal of thought, I felt I could not turn down," said the 42-year-old Back
"I received an approach from Michael in May, less than an hour after my resignation from Leeds was announced.
"He sold me his vision of taking this famous club back to the top flight of English rugby, while doing something really meaningful for the town.
Ambitious
"It's a big call for me having coached in the Premiership and I have asked myself whether it's a retrograde step given how ambitious I am.
"It's not about money. Nor is this is an easy option by any stretch of the imagination, which is why I asked for a five-year contract.
"But I believe that turning around Rugby and getting the club to the Premiership would be a significant achievement and one I can use as a stepping stone to coaching at the very highest level."
Aland has plans to build a new 30,000-capacity stadium, complete with retractable roof, as well as putting together a team capable of reaching the Premiership.
"This is very much about giving the town of Rugby something of which it can be proud," said Aland.
"My aim is to put into place a venture which will sustain itself and be financed as a stand-alone project."
Former England Sevens captain Ben Gollings has joined the club as a player and attack coach.
