Rugby League legend Keith Senior returns to rugby Union 20 years later

Talk to anyone in either code about legendary Rugby League centre Keith Senior and the soundbites are always the same.
“Great player for Leeds Rhinos … won plenty of Great Britain caps … what’s he doing now?”
Well, let the man himself explain.
“I’m training at Leeds Carnegie with a view to signing a one-year deal for the coming season,” the 36-year-old told The Rugby Paper.
“I was at the Rhinos for 13 years and Leeds Rugby is a great organisation to work for.
“Obviously they’ve got a massive tie up between League and Union, so it just made sense to stay with the organisation.
“I’ve been recovering from a cruciate knee injury for the past year, but I’ve got to tip my hat to the Leeds medical staff and Gary Hetherington.
“They’ve done their best for me when they could have just cast me to one side.
“They’ve kept giving me treatment and paying all the medical bills.
“This is a way for me to pay them back for sticking with me for these 12 horrendous months I’ve been going through.
“At the moment I’m training with Carnegie and it’s in the early stages.
“There is a contract there for me and, if I do take it on, my dream would be to play in the Premiership.
“With Newcastle coming down, it’s made things a whole lot more difficult for everybody in the Championship.
“But it’s a challenge and that’s what professional sport is all about.”
Should Senior’s knee stand up to scrutiny, he will sign a one-year deal that will see him become the elder statesmen in Diccon Edwards’ young squad.
Senior added: “I’ve been nicknamed the father of the squad because I’m old enough to be most of the young players’ dad!
“It’s a very youthful, enthusiastic squad but they’ve got a lot to learn.
“Hopefully I can instill some of my professionalism, and many years of experience of training at the highest level, into them. I’ll play inside-centre. I’ve got a good off-load game but have to learn about the rucks and the mauls.
“It’s just about getting the ball in your hands and running as hard, fast and strong as you can, which I’ve done for a very long time.
“With Rugby League, I said I’d never drop down a division because I played at the highest level for so long.
“With Rugby Union, it’s a different kettle of fish. It’s a different game, it’s totally new to me and I’m having to learn.
“I played a long time ago but when you’re a 16-year-old kid it’s a little bit different to how the professionals play it now.
“It’s good to learn the game and the technical aspects of it.
“That’s what is keeping me interested.”
Senior is enjoying life at Headingley in the 15-man code.
He explained: “They put long days in here, which isn’t something I’m used to in League … I’m used to finishing a lunchtime!
“With Rugby Union it is a nine-to-five job so I’m putting the hours in during pre-season. Training is going quite well but it’s going to be down to my knee.
“Hopefully by the time the season starts I’ll be fit and raring to go and that will be when the contract will get signed.
“There are no dramas over it. It’s just about me proving my fitness to the club and showing I’m capable of doing a job.”
ROSS HEPPENSTALL