Leeds' Key looking to get quality

Key, left, and head coach Neil Back want to bring eight new players in

Director of rugby Andy Key says Leeds Carnegie will replace Tom Biggs and Rob Vickerman with equal quality.

The England sevens stars have left the club along with eight other players after failing to agree new deals.

"We are very confident that we can bring in even better quality," Key told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It is about pushing the bar and it's about bringing in players that can manage and develop in the Premiership, that's what we are looking to get."

The other players to exit Headingley are fly-halves Alberto Di Bernardo and James Brooks, back-row Jon Dunbar, prop Adam Hopcroft and youngsters Chris Steel and Andy Boyde.

Biggs and Vickerman remain the major losses to Leeds, with both attracting admirers from both Premiership and French clubs.

"It was disappointing to lose such players at the end of the season, but that's a fact of life and what you have to deal with in professional rugby," said Key.

"We've been talking with the players and their agents over many weeks and we all agreed it was the right time for them to move on to help their future development.

"We have two guys that have come through the system, that have been here for a number of years, and we all agreed their now it was best for their careers that they move on.

"They, along with the other six guys, leave with our best wishes and we wish them all the best where ever they end up."

Leeds have already made two signings ahead of their Premiership campaign and have revealed that they are currently talking to another four un-named players about moving to West Yorkshire.

Meanwhile South African back-row Hendre Fourie has been named Leeds Carnegie's Players' Player of the Year.

Fourie said: "I am really pleased to have won the award especially because it is voted for by my fellow team mates.

"It has been a long season and we are all looking forward now to next season and hopefully building on this year and keeping our place in the Guinness Premiership."

Full-back Leigh Hinton scooped a double award as he won the Commitment to the Community Award and the Colin Cramphorn Memorial Trophy as the Supporters Player of the Year.

England u-20 captain Calum Clark was named as the club's Young Player of the Year for the second year running, while fellow flanker Jacob Rowan won Academy Player of the Year.