Back pleased with Leeds Carnegie progress in France

Back is into his third season in charge at Leeds

Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back says the week long training camp in France has been extremely beneficial.

Leeds conclude the trip with their first pre-season game against French Top 14 new boys Agen.

"The coaching staff are really pleased with the results of this week's training camp," said Back.

"I am looking forward to seeing how some of our new signings fit in in the Agen game. We face a tough challenge against Agen on their own patch."

The match will mark the official opening of Agen's new ground and will be a stern test for the Aviva Premiership Rugby side with a month to go until the start of the new season.

The hosts begin their league campaign next week and have already played a number of pre-season games.

"They are a week out from the start of their season whilst this is our first game of the pre-season so obviously we are both looking for different things from the game.

"I am looking forward to seeing how some of our new signings fit in in the game. There are a few guys we have brought in as development players like Jesus Moreno Rodriguez, Christian Lewis-Pratt and James Tincknell who will get a chance against Agen.

We have brought in more leaders to our squad and we now have better quality in depth across the team

Neil Back

"It will be good to see how some of the experienced guys go with Michael Stephenson and Daniel Browne also getting a first run out for us. They have fitted in really well and it will be good to see them in action.

"The squad is coming together really well. Those players who have been on the journey with us for a couple of seasons can see how far their belief has brought them to this stage and everyone is looking forward to the next challenge.

"We have brought in more leaders to our squad and we now have better quality in depth across the team.

"We are confident that if we have our best players on the field we can compete with anyone but we also know there is a lot of hard work to do between now and the opening game of the season against Bath on 5 September."