Yorkshire Carnegie: Assistant coach Cummins to leave club by mutual agreement

The former Leeds Rhinos winger and Bradford Bulls head coach, 38, joined last season on a consultancy basis before becoming a permanent member of Bryan Redpath’s coaching team in 2015-16.

His current contract expires in May and, with the club unable to offer an extension at this stage, Carnegie have agreed to release Cummins to allow him to look at other options.

Redpath will now take sole responsibility for the club’s backs as head coach and there are no plans to add to the existing coaching team for the remainder of the season which Carnegie hope will end with them earning a first return to the Premiership in five years.

They are currently fourth in the Championship having suffered a disappointing 22-20 loss at London Scottish last weekend.

“We would like to thank Francis for his work with the club over the last 18 months,” said Carnegie’s executive chairman Sir Ian McGeechan.

“At the present time, we are unable to offer a longer deal to him so we have agreed to the request to release him to look at other options. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Carnegie are currently 12 points behind leaders Bristol with eight games to go in the regular season before the top-four play-offs and in the British & Irish Cup quarter-final where they play Moseley at Headingley on Sunday March 13, (3pm).