KEIGHLEY'S influence at Greene King IPA Championship club Yorkshire Carnegie is growing.

Ben Lazenby, whose dad Brian is a committee man at Keighley RUFC, is the Headingley club's new Academy programme manager.

Keighley-born Lazenby, who has established a strong reputation for player development during his eight years at Warrington Wolves, will work under another Keighley man in Yorkshire Carnegie Academy director Andy Rock.

Twenty-five youth players progressed to full-time contracts during Lazenby's time at the Wolves, which is testament to his hard work.

His new role will involve strategic leadership and management of player and coach development programmes within Yorkshire, aligned to the Yorkshire Carnegie Regional Academy.

The role also involves responsibility to work in partnership with the Yorkshire RFU to manage development activity across the county, and within the Regional Academy for age-group programmes.

Rock, whose dad Bernard played for the first team and whose brother Tom has also played for Keighley's first team and has been director of rugby at Otley, said: "This is a hugely important appointment for our development strategy across the county, and it was vital that we attracted someone of the right calibre to fulfil this crucial role within our organisation.

"The appointment of Ben Lazenby will allow us to take a real step forward across the county in terms of what we are able to offer coaches and players at all levels.

"His initial focus will be on the player development pathway using our satellite academy programme across Yorkshire to identify and develop the best young talent within Yorkshire.

"I am delighted to have brought Ben into our Academy team as he will complement the great people we already have in place and, I have no doubt, he will bring fresh ideas from his own personal experience in development."

Lazenby said: "As a proud Yorkshireman, I am delighted to have an exciting opportunity to work with Yorkshire Carnegie and help young players within the county realise their potential.

"While my recent experience has been in rugby league, I grew up with both codes of rugby, and I am keen to implement the pathways that allow young players to see a route through to the professional ranks.

"Ultimately, the Academy programme will be measured on how successful we are at bringing through quality players to the senior team, and that is something that excites me.

"We have a fantastic opportunity here in Yorkshire with the talent pool that is available to us and, while the size of our region is undoubtedly a challenge for us, it is also a huge asset for the future success of Yorkshire Carnegie."

* Experienced Keighley prop Paul Sinfield is one of eight initial new signings named by Bradford & Bingley, whose head of rugby is former Keighley player Martin Whitcombe.

The latter said: "Seeing Paul Sinfield's name on that list might raise an eyebrow down the road at Keighley.

"But we need players for all conditions, and if it comes to a game played in filthy conditions in January, we might need a few immovable objects to bolster our front row.

"Paul might be a man who can come in and be that awkward lump of furniture that the opposition cannot shift."