Leeds have completed the signing on Australian fly-half Lachlan Mackay on a two-year deal from Brive.
Australian fly-half agrees two-year deal
Leeds have completed the signing on Australian fly-half Lachlan Mackay on a two-year deal.
The 27-year-old, who can also play in the centres, arrives at Headingley after two seasons at Brive - where he played alongside fellow Leeds new boy Steve Thompson.
Mackay, who played for the Wallabies against the All Blacks in 2005, will also team up with Gareth Hardy - with the duo having been colleagues at Western Force.
And Leeds director of rugby Andy Key believes Mackay will add valuable competition for No.10 jersey.
"We are delighted to have signed a player of the quality of Lachlan," said Key.
"We spoke to Steve Thompson regarding Lachlan after the pair had played together at Brive for the last two seasons and he could not speak highly enough of him both as a player and as an individual.
"His signing gives us great depth in the number ten shirt with Ceirion Thomas in outstanding form at the end of last season. However, he is equally adept at playing at inside centre which will be vital for us next season as we look to have quality across the backline.
Pleased
"To achieve our goals for next season, the whole squad recognises that we need to have competition for every place in the side and we are certainly moving towards that position now."
Mackay, who also played for the Waratahs, is relishing the new challenge of playing in England.
"I am really pleased to be joining Leeds Carnegie and excited about playing in the Premiership. I enjoyed my time in France but the challenge of coming to England is something I am particularly looking forward to," he said.
"I have been training with the squad for the past couple of weeks and I have been made to feel very welcome. Obviously Steve Thompson is someone I know well from my time in France and Gareth Hardy has been showing me around the city since I got here so settling in has not been a problem.
"Leeds Carnegie are an ambitious club and I am looking forward to working hard in pre-season and earning a place in the side for the start of the season against Bath on September 5."
