Rhinos head north for winter

Thursday 24th December 2009

Above: Brian McClennan - looking forward to Cumbria.

Super League champions Leeds Rhinos are turning their back on sunny Florida - and heading for Cumbria instead.

After warming up for their 2008 and 2009 championship triumphs in Jacksonville, Leeds will hold their 2010 pre-season training camp in the Lake District.

The Rhinos will undergo a few days of outdoor activities in Eskdale and then wrap up the camp with a friendly against Whitehaven at the Recreation Ground on Sunday, January 24 - five days before their opening League match against Crusaders.

Financial constraints have forced a rethink on the club's pre-season plans but coach Brian McClennan is happy with the change of scenery.

"It's a bit different to Florida," he said. "We're looking forward to it.

"Florida was really good but it was a long way getting there and getting back and that knocks you around a bit.

"We're happy to be going just two or three hours up the road, plus we're happy to be promoting our sport in a rugby league heartland.

"Cumbria people love their rugby league and we're getting good ties with Whitehaven.

"We're going to a lodge for the first couple of nights out in the sticks. We'll be putting bandanas on and war paint or whatever you do on camp. We'll have a couple of nights of male bonding before we go up to play Whitehaven."

McClennan expects to have his full squad available for the trip to Cumbria. Major new signings Greg Eastwood and Brett Delaney will both sit out the Boxing Day friendly with Wakefield as they continue their rehabilitation from injury and, like Grand Final winners Keith Senior and Ian Kirke, will target the Matt Diskin testimonial match against Bradford on January 17 for their comeback.