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York RUFC welcomes Lee Denham back as Head Coach
York RUFC coaching team takes shape as the new season approaches
York RUFC are delighted to announce that Lee Denham has returned to the club as Head Coach following a short period away to focus on some personal reasons.
Lee is no stranger to York having started his career at York in 2000 as a player, having previously played for British Army, Combined Services, Otley, Leeds and Worcester. An uncompromising back row he played for two seasons before moving on to Hull and returning for the 2007-2008 season amassing around 100 York caps in total.
His coaching career started at Hull Ionians before rejoining Clifton Park in the 2015-16 season leading the club to a number of promotions and successes before stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 season. As part of his return to Rugby, Lee has this year successfully coached the Yorkshire Senior Mens team through to the finals of the Bill Beaumont Championship which will take place at Twickenham on 21st June.
Lee will be joined by Declan Cusack and Connor Edwards with Dec starting a new role creating pathways for local talent and the York RUFC youth section through into Senior Rugby. Connor is a very experienced Centre having played for Wales U20’s and currently at Doncaster.
Last season York RUFC were winners of the Yorkshire Cup for the first time in their history with Graham Steadman leading the coaching team. ‘Steady’ is moving back to Rugby League with a role in the York Knights/Newcastle Thunder/Penrith Panthers partnership.
Paul Simpson, Chair of York RUFC, commented “It is fantastic that York continue to attract high calibre coaches to the club and that we can keep providing a high standard of games for our supporters to watch”.
“We are also really excited to be developing and improving our pathways for young talent in the community and our Junior section and we look forward to growing our squad accordingly.
Mickey Negri, Club President, added “On the back of a series of promotions, a Yorkshire Cup win and Yorkshire reaching the finals of the Bill Beaumont Championship with York players in the squad, we are looking forward to continued success in the coming season with Lee at the helm”.
“Lee is already a firm favourite with the club and having all that experience returning to us, along with his success with the County team is a fantastic prospect for York RUFC and the coming season”.
Lee Denham said “I am really looking forward to coming back to York RUFC, working with players who are looking to better themselves and hopefully the Club as a whole, looking to move the team forward by developing individual skills to benefit the team”.