Alix Popham Signing Confirmed

Keeping options open
By Mally (on 09/10/02)
October 9 2002

The rumour mill did not lie. Leeds Tykes have confirmed the signing of 23 year old Alix Popham from Newport. Popham, a Wales A back row, joins Tykes from Newport on a 2 year contract.

The more eagle eyed Tykes fans may remember Popham from last season. Alix spent a month on loan at Headingley last season during which time he impressed Phil Davies. Popham should provide the Tykes Director of Rugby with options in the back row. Phil Davies commented:

"Alix is a very talented young player who impressed us last season when he came to us on loan. He will give us options in the back row and he is ambitious to develop his career here." (Tykes News Release)

Discussing his new signing in his Yorkshire Evening Post column today Phil Davies described the young back row as a "quality player" with "a lot of ability and potential" something which Davies is keen to help him fulfil.

"I was amazed Newport let him go but that’s good news for us…. I think getting him out of Wales and breaking from the daily grind down there should bring the best out of him."

An additional back row player was an item on most fans pre-season shopping list, so Popham’s signing is a welcome one. Popham may not be as well known a name as say Andre Vos, but if he’s good enough for our DoR then he’s good enough for the majority of Tykes fans. With his summer signings Phil Davies has proved he has a knack for picking quality team players, who work hard.

Tykes fans will not get to see Alix Popham in action for at least a couple of weeks as he is not registered to appear in the up coming Parker Pen Challenge Cup matches. The first match he is eligible for is the next Zurich Premiership match on 26th October. However the team are performing well at the moment, with the current back row of Mather, Feaunati and Hyde all on top form, so it may take Alix a while to break into the team. Competition for those 3 back row spots will be fierce, something which can only be good for the Tykes!


All quotes taken from Phil Davies' weekly column "On the Ball" in the Yorkshire Evening Post, unless stated otherwise.