Leeds Carnegie have kicked off their recruitment campaign for the 2012-13 Championship season with the capture of four players on two year contracts from Championship finalists Cornish Pirates in David Doherty, Mike Myerscough, James Doherty and Matt Smith.

The quartet includes three players with connections to the club who are returning home to Yorkshire to continue their rugby. David Doherty, 25, was the youngest ever player to make his debut in the Premiership when he emerged from the Leeds Carnegie Academy ranks in 2004. Since then he has had spells at London Wasps, Sale, Jersey and the Pirates but comes home on a two year contract having scored 14 tries in 24 games this season to add to the 18 he scored the year before at Jersey.

Second row Matt Smith, 22, is from Royston, near Barnsley, and played for Sandal in his formative years whilst attending Silcoates School. From here he was spotted by the Leeds Carnegie Academy and spent two years in the Academy before moving to the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC). He represented UWIC in three Finals at Twickenham as well as being selected for England Students before joining the Pirates.

The third player with a Yorkshire connection is scrum half James Doherty. The 24-year-old scrum half previously played at Wharfedale and attended the University of Leeds. He originally hails from Blackpool but attended Sedbergh School. In his four seasons at Wharfedale, he was in the starting line-up for all but one of the 96 league appearances he made, a remarkable achievement at such a young age. He has also represented Lancashire and England Counties and has played at the Pirates for the past two seasons.

Finally, the fourth player to make the move to Headingley Carnegie is Cornishman Mike Myerscough. He first emerged from the Bath Academy before a spell at Cornish All Blacks brought him to the attention of the Pirates. The 25-year-old second row is originally from Bude and has played for England up to Under 18 level. His time at the Pirates has been a frustrating one due to injuries however this season he has put those set backs behind him and made 16 appearances so far for the Championship finalists, including an impressive showing off the bench in the first leg defeat to London Welsh in the Championship Final.

Commenting on the announcement Head Coach Diccon Edwards said: “We are delighted to be able to secure four players of the calibre of these guys for next season. We have always maintained that our Academy is at the heart of our club so to bring three players back home to play for Leeds Carnegie is a real boost to our squad. David Doherty is one of the most exciting players in the Championship, as Leeds fans got to see in our final game of the season as he set up a spectacular try in the second half, whilst James Doherty will give us great competition for the number nine shirt alongside Craig Hampson.

“In the forwards, Matt Smith is a player that we were disappointed to lose from our Academy at the time and someone who is passionate about Leeds Carnegie being successful next season. Mike Myerscough has a tremendous pedigree having learnt his trade at Bath and will be a great addition to our forward pack. All four have been part of a successful team this season with the Pirates and had the chance to say goodbye to their fans at the Pirates in last night’s game. We wish them well for the second leg and look forward to welcoming them to Leeds Carnegie this summer,” added Edwards.