Leeds Rhinos Foundation returned home to their offices at the Leeds Rugby Academy training ground in Kirkstall today alongside the Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie, following the grand re-opening of the site that was left devastated by the Boxing Day Floods over six months ago.
The training ground which has been restored by Caddick Construction over an 18 month flood reinstatement period is used daily by Leeds Rhinos Foundation, who work with over 50,000 people every year, using the offices alongside Yorkshire Carnegie and the Leeds Rhinos as well as, local community club Milford Marlins ARLFC.
Key Partners Caddick Construction implemented a complete transformation of the facility. The entire ground floor of the 14,500 sq ft training building was stripped out, redesigned and reinstated with flood protection to all areas, including submersible pumps, Polymer rendered walls, resin floors and metal doors.
Timber floors have been replaced with concrete and all plumbing and electrics have been upgraded. External works include reinstating areas damaged by the floods and creating a new 20 space car park.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Trustee and Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr Lucinda Yeadon helped re-open the venue, unveiling a new plaque to commemorate the event alongside Director of Operations Bob Bowman, Yorkshire Carnegie Head Coach Brian Redpath and Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brian McDermott.
Cllr Yeadon, who oversees the Kirkstall Ward said:
"It's just over six months now when I first got the phone call to say that it was raining in Kirkstall and it was flooding to the point where Kirkstall Road was now a river flowing into Leeds city centre and in the immediate aftermath of the floods when I came to see it, I think its fair to say it was one of the most devastating things i'd ever seen."
"However from that we have seen the community rally together to become stronger, so i'm really pleased six months later to be able to open this facility because if there is one thing that you guys (Leeds Rugby) represent, it is the importance of community and how important you are to us, and to have you back home is incredibly significant to say that Kirkstall is vibrant and back up and running and this demonstrates that.
"Thanks for inviting me hear today and thanks for being such an important part of our community."