Balshaw seals Leeds move

Leeds today made public English rugby's worst-kept secret by signing England international Iain Balshaw.

Balshaw, capped 22 times by his country and a member of England's World Cup-winning squad last autumn, has agreed a three-year contract.

He had been unsettled for some time at Bath, and Leeds have secured the full-back/wing's services ahead of offers from other Zurich Premiership clubs.

Bath reunion

Balshaw, who celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday, will link up with former Bath coach Jon Callard at Headingley and ex-Recreation Ground team-mate Mark Regan.

"After a fantastic spell with Bath, I will be saying goodbye to players that have become lifelong friends and also to a committed fan base, but I feel that it's time for a change," said Balshaw.

"Joining Leeds, an ambitious club, will be a great challenge for me. I am from the north, so there is also the added bonus of heading back 'home'.

"The Tykes are a relatively new side, but they are developing exceptionally well, and I am excited about being a part of such a talented squad. I have a lot of respect for Phil Davies (rugby director) and Jon Callard (coach), who are both no-nonsense men.

"I'm still a young guy, and I obviously want to keep improving my game. I believe that Leeds will be able to help me do that."

'Quality signing'

Davies added: "I am delighted to have signed a player of Iain's quality. He is a very ambitious player, and he will be a vital component of our team as we move forward in the coming years to the next level.

"Iain has chosen to come to us ahead of offers from other clubs, and I know he is looking forward to coming back to the north of England.

It highlights the ambition of this club that we are able to attract players of Iain's quality."

Balshaw is an obvious replacement for Dan Scarbrough, who departs the Tykes this summer to begin a new career with their Premiership rivals Saracens.

And Leeds will hope that Blackburn-born Balshaw can recapture the sizzling form that made him such hot property when he burst on to the international stage during England's 2001 Six Nations campaign, scoring five tries in five games.

He toured Australia with the 2001 Lions, going on as a replacement in all three Tests, but failed to make a significant impact.

A combination of major injuries and loss of form since then has restricted him to just seven England starts in almost three years, including three during this year's RBS 6 Nations.