How do I know this? It's perfectly simple – it hasn't been announced on the official site yet. Leeds Rugby are spectacularly conservative as far as issuing press releases are concerned. We complain that we don't get enough information from them and that we read Leeds related news elsewhere consistently before it becomes available officially, and perhaps we are justified in that. However the press office at Headingley is adamant that they will not issue any news item that isn't dyed-in-the-wool, 100% true – they've had their fingers burned before when announcing a player signing as fact, only to have him pull out late in the proceedings, but before there was any ink on the contract. Embarrassment all round, and a vow never to do that again. Personally, I think their caution is justifiable, but frustrating. However we hear latterly that BBC Radio Leeds are reporting that the interview process is still underway, and that Back has, as yet, not been appointed.

But enough about press releases and news management – what of Back himself? What could he do for Leeds? What are his credentials? Who, not to put too fine a point on it, is he?

Most of you aren't from Mars, so you'll have heard of him (even my wife has for cripes sake, THAT'S how well known he is!). He's a legendary England and Leicester Tigers openside, fondly remembered as a key man in the Hill-Back-Dallalglio triumvirate that dominated the breakdowns at international level between 2000 – 2003. Not so fondly remembered by Freddy and the Munstermen for the "Hand of God" incident that – unfairly – did for them in the Heineken Cup. And he won't fondly remember Jack Rowell, who, as England head coach in the nineties, suggested he was too small to be an international player.

As a coach, he's been in the backroom staff for the Tigers for the last four years as defence coach, and, having spent eighteen years at the East Midlands club, he appears to be moving on to prove his coaching is as good as his playing career was. If that's true, then he will be a formidable Head Coach.

There has been some mild criticism of the previous regime under Stuart Lancaster, suggesting his profile in the international rugby world wasn't enough to attract the right calibre of player. Lancaster denied this, citing that rugby players don't make their career decisions by whatever is said in newspapers (or on websites come to that!). Whatever the truth of it, no one could possibly deny a lack of profile in Back's case.

He's got the profile, he's got the experience of top level coaching in the Premiership, he's got experience of playing at the highest level possible. Only one question remains….

Has he got a DeLorean?

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