TEENAGE rugby ace, Richard Moore, completed his move to Leeds Rhinos this week.
Moore, who was top scorer for the Cougar Academy side last season, made the move to the Super League club in a bid to make it to the top of the sport. He started playing after joining the Cougar Cubs as a junior.
"I've only ever wanted to be a professional rugby player, and have always given everything," he said.
While he has been moving up into the top ranks, former Cougar star Martin Wood has been released by Sheffield Eagles.
He moved to the Sheffield club, together with Nick Pinkney, in a bargain-basement deal when Cougars hit financial problems in 1997. At the time the Keighley club was looking to offload players who were costing the club in large wage bills.
Wood, 29, a lively loose forward with a quick rugby brain which brought him a string of tries and a place in the England squad. Last year he was part of the Sheffield team which sprung the surprise of the year by beating Wigan in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
But once again he has paid the price of financial restrictions within the game.
"We have reluctantly decided to let him go because of the salary cap pressure on the club," said Eagles coach John Kear.
Wood is hoping to find a place with another Super League club.
He has scored a total of 62 points in 48 matches with the Eagles, but was not a regular starter last season.
n The Cougars launch their 'Hall of Fame' at the club tonight with the oldest former player, Norman Foster, the first to take his place.
He will be followed by Terry Hollindrake, Keighley's only home-grown GB International.
The idea for the Hall of Fame has also caught the imagination of Cougar fans from across the years with a string of suggestions for players who should be admitted to the gallery.
Among suggestions made by fans are John Burke from the 1970's, Geoff Crewdson and Chris Brereton from the 1960's, Roy Sabine, who joined the club in the 1950's and played until the mid '70's together with a host of other top performers.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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