Nobody can deny the loanees have strengthened the team at a vital stage of the season, but as has been pointed out, when they are recalled at short notice, the players they replaced are called back into action, fully aware they are only keeping the shirt warm until the loanees return. As professional players, this goes with the territory, but it must have an effect on morale, and when contracts are up for discussion at the end of the season, will some of these promising youngsters decide they will be more valued elsewhere?

Leeds seems to have 3 categories of players who were not, initially, contracted to the club.Bell and Thornley arrived at Headingley at the start of the term in a season long loan deal, and injuries to our own players gave them an early introduction to the first team. They have become permanent fixtures in the starting line up and have also contributed massively to Leeds victories with their points scoring exploits.

Another group consisted of Lockwood and Mustafa who, I believe, joined in effect as trialists in an attempt to win permanent contracts. Sam Lockwood now has his contract, whilst Mo is apparently deciding if his medical studies should take priority over his rugby. By coming to the club at the beginning of the season they have become integral members of the squad, and most fans class them as Leeds  players.

 It is however, the third group, the short term acquisitions who pitch up, and not only at Leeds, to be fair, because the Premiership clubs do not have fixtures enabling them to give these players the chance to keep match fit, and press their claims for promotion to the first XV. The top clubs know that most Championship clubs will happily take these players on, because they strengthen their sides as the play offs approach.

One of the problems, for clubs in the Premiership, is the lack of A team fixtures. Only 5 games in the fixture list, plus the LV cup, and these scheduled to be completed before the end of December. Consequently their fringe players cannot keep match fit, so it becomes very convenient for them to ask Championship clubs to take them on loan and give them much needed game time. Perhaps the best example of this is Will Cliff, who was reportedly coming to Leeds after the World Cup, but the deal then fell through. However with no A team fixtures remaining Sale, and other Prem. clubs will now happily offload players surplus to their immediate needs to make sure they are playing on a regular basis. George Ford arrived from Leicester, but was recalled after two games, and he is unlikely to return now, until the regular season has finished.

The two players mentioned, were instrumental in Leeds improved performance at Moseley, but now they are gone, and the lads they replaced have to come back in and pick up the pieces.

I agree with Diccon Edwards that it is up to the players to take the opportunity when it arises, but I have to question the effect on team spirit, when these short term loans are agreed. It also puts us in the position of the Prem. teams in that there are no games for those who are not playing to stake a claim for match day inclusion. So we are giving loanees a game, at the expense of our own loyal players, because we have no fixtures for them to play in.  How can those out of favour regain their place in the starting team?

I hope that in the next few weeks a few of our injured players will be ready to return, but where will they get their match fitness from, and prove they are fit enough to come back?

Perhaps something Leeds could do to offset this, is arrange a series of games against some of the local clubs. I am sure many of them would jump at the chance to provide opposition, especially if they could play on their own ground and boost their takings. It would be a good PR exercise, and who knows we may unearth a future star, and maybe even attract a few more fans.

There is no doubt that Leeds has benefited enormously from the loan deals that have taken place, as have the players concerned. But the question remains, who will get the benefit next season? I hope the arrangements bring us the end result most of us wish to see, but I also hope the second half of the Championship is not becoming a Premiership A league, in disguise. This would be yet another sad reflection on the way the game is run at the very top level, and further devaluation of the second tier of English rugby.

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