Leeds have been handed a well needed boost in the midst of their play off campaign. With two of their hottest prospects signing up to new contracts tying them to the Yorkshire club for the next few seasons.

With their hopes of promotion back to the Aviva Premiership at the first time of asking hanging very much in the balance, Lee Blackett, the long serving winger of the Leeds Carnegie has come out and stated that there is no chance of giving up on the hopes of promotion and they will fight on till the final whistle in their last game for it.

The Leeds Rugby club has paired up with the RFL Benevolent Fund and is working in collaboration with the Oulton Raiders to raise funds for fellow mate James Brook who is currently in America being treated for facial cancer.

James plays for the under 16 team of the Oulton Raiders and was detected with cancer in December 2011. The young players of both the team will be wearing specially designed t-shirts during the game with slogans like “Get well soon Brooky!” and will be moving around to collect any donations from the people which might be of support to James and his family.

Andy Titterrell has returned to Leeds after a return to former club Sale and a return to the Premiership.

It gave Titterrell a taste of the Premiership, which he has missed out on this season. He has revealed he is desperate to return to the Premiership again as soon as possible.

His return could come a lot sooner than it seemed possible in recent months. Leeds are still some way back, but are closing the gap on the play off places steadily. It remains a long shot but Titterrell and Leeds could be making a return to the big time within just a few months.

Leeds won a great and an important match in their Boxing Day challenge match which has now become an annual event - they thumped Wakefield twenty-six to ten at Headingley.

The Super League champions had a good mixture of promising youngsters and seasoned players in the line up which ensured that the festive crowd at the stadium was thoroughly entertained.

Leeds appear to be very much a club in transition this year. Whilst most teams to have been relegated from the Premiership in recent years seem to have bounced back at the first time of asking Leeds have struggled to reach the dominance achieved by Northampton, Harlequins and Worcester following their relegation to the Championship.

Leeds Carnegie have made a major signing in the form of Ryan Burrows. Burrows, who made more than 100 appearances in four seasons with the Titans, has signed a two-year contract at Headingley.

Leeds assistant coach Mark Luffman said: "Ryan is a very exciting player and someone who comes with a fine pedigree from Rotherham.

"He knows what it takes to compete in the Championship."

A number of players had since departed Leeds, which is worrying for the club. England flanker Hendre Fourie has joined Sale Sharks, while Daniel Browne and Juan Gomez have been released.

Full-back Leigh Hinton, winger Henry Fa'afili, scrum-halves Alex Black and Warren Fury and prop Jesus Moreno-Rodriguez will not get new deals.

Chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "Obviously following relegation there will be a rationalising process."

Three promising young players of Leeds Carnegie today agreed new deals in good news for the club.

Props Phil Swainston and Gareth Denman along with second row Tom Denton have all signed new two-year contracts.

Head Coach Neil Back said: "Leeds Carnegie has a strong tradition of giving young players the chance to play at the highest level.

"All three of these players are proud Yorkshiremen who love playing for their club. This is great news on the back of Marco Wentzel's new contract."

Leeds Carnegie director of rugby Andy Key has parted company with the club with immediate effect.

A club statement says his departure is part of a restructuring of the management team.

Head coach Neil Back will now be solely in charge and Leeds will not appoint a new director of rugby.

Chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "This was a tough decision, however we felt it was important we took it as part of our overall vision."