Alan Tait: Former cross-code man applies for Leeds Carnegie job

Alan Tait won just six of his 36 Premiership games as head coach of Newcastle Falcons

Former British & Irish Lion Alan Tait has applied to become Leeds Carnegie head coach, reports BBC Radio Leeds.

Tait, 50, last worked as head coach of Newcastle Falcons in 2012.

The Scot is looking to succeed James Lowes, who left the Championship side to take over at Super League Bradford.

Cross-code British representative Tait featured for Leeds Rhinos in rugby league's top flight and played under Carnegie chairman Sir Ian McGeechan on the 1997 rugby union Lions tour.

He started his career in the 15-man game, making his Test debut for Scotland in the inaugural World Cup in 1987.

Tait then spent eight years playing rugby league for Widnes and Leeds, going on to appear for both Scotland and Great Britain.

Professionalism in rugby union prompted Tait's return, joining Newcastle Falcons in 1997 and featuring for Scotland again after a nine-year absence before going on to tour South Africa with McGeechan's Lions in the same year.

After retiring as a player in 1999, he worked as a defensive coach for Scotland and assistant at the Falcons before being promoted to head coach at Kingston Park in in 2010.

Carnegie narrowly lost out to the eventually promoted London Welsh in the end-of-season play-offs last term, consigning them to a fifth successive season without Premiership rugby.