Greens recruit young Leeds player
2:37pm Thursday 14th February 2008
Wharfedale have brought in a youngster from National League One side Leeds Carnegie who the Greens hope will be with them until at least the end of the season.
Flanker Sam Sticher, 21, joined the Greens three weeks ago but Wharfedale coach Peter Hartley said he has struggled with a back injury.
Hartley said: "He looks a good player and has played a couple of times for the first team this season."
Sticher's credentials are impressive. A former pupil at Wellington College he joined Leeds from London Wasps for 2005-06 after moving north to attend university.
He made his Leeds first team debut on the final day of that season against Newcastle Falcons. This was due reward for the London-born player who had shown a great improvement over the course of the season and had led the Development XV in a fantastic season.
As the club began rebuilding following their relegation from the top flight, Sticher was rewarded for his consistent efforts in the A team with a place in the first team squad.
Sticher has excelled in the Academy set up. He was the captain of Leeds Development XV side who captured the Yorkshire Cup with victory against Wharfedale in 2006.
He first won representative honours in 2003 with England U-16s. Two years later he was named in the U-18s squad and he continued his progression with an U-19s call.
Hartley said: "He's come from Leeds with the opportunity to play some competitive rugby. Although he has a good CV he still needs to meet our criteria and he still has to earn his place. If he comes in, I'd have to drop somebody. He's got no more rights to a starting place than anybody else.
Sticher makes his debut in the No 7 shirt for the Foresters at Old Crossleyans on Saturday.