The Rugby Football League today announced a restructure of the England Performance Unit which involves an expanded role for Paul Sculthorpe MBE, and contract extensions for Kevin Sinfield MBE and Jamie Peacock MBE.
Sculthorpe, the only man to win Super Leagueโs Man of Steel award in consecutive years, has been appointed England Pathways Coach, meaning he will be working with all teams in the EPU and focusing on the countryโs outstanding young players, from Junior Academy to Knights level โ following his involvement in last autumnโs successful England Knights tour of Papua New Guinea.
Sinfield, who joined the RFL as Rugby Director in 2016 and has continued in that role since being appointed as Director of Rugby at Leeds Rhinos last summer, has committed to the RFL role until 2022 – after the Rugby League World Cup on home soil in 2021.
Peacock, another former England and Great Britain captain who has been working as the England team manager since July 2016, has also extended his agreement with the RFL until 2021.
Paul Anderson will be continuing as Knights head coach in a consultancy role after joining Warringtonโs backroom staff since the end of last season, and the former Warrington forward David Elliott remains National Programme Manager and head coach of the England Academy team after the 2-0 series victory over the Australian Schoolboys last month.
Ben Jones, previously the Research and Innovation Manager, takes a new role as England Performance Director; Jane Phillips takes over as Head of England Operations; and Barry Frost continues as Head of Performance Analysis.
Further announcements about the England Women and Wheelchair coaching staff will be made later this year.
Ralph Rimmer, the RFL chief executive, said: โWe created the England Performance Unit last January after proposals from Kevin Sinfield, and the results for 2018 speak for themselves.
โOur senior England menโs team won four games out of five Tests played, three of them against New Zealand.
โEngland Women had a big win in France – although we recognise that securing more international competition for them is a major priority for 2019 and beyond – and on one memorable Saturday in October, the Knights made it three wins out of three for our England teams when they won their first international in Papua New Guinea.
โThat was followed by the superb performances of Dave Elliottโs England Academy team against the Australian Schoolboys.
โSo itโs great to be able to announce the news that Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Paul Sculthorpe – three truly outstanding players of the Super League era โ will retain key roles in the EPU, as we continue to build towards hosting the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.
โWe recognise there is a need for clarity about international fixtures for all our national teams – menโs, womenโs and wheelchair โ and rest assured we are working hard behind the scenes to allow us to make further positive announcements as soon as possible.
โThe EPU is delivering exactly as we had hoped, which is thanks to those involved and also the support of the clubs.
โWe remain focused on success in the RLWC2021 and beyond, as we all understand the impact this can have for the sport in the UK – and are therefore delighted to have secured these key personnel on that journey.โ
England Performance Unit 2019
England Rugby Director; Kevin Sinfield (Consultant)
England Performance Director; Ben Jones (Consultant)
Knights Head Coach; Paul Anderson (Consultant)
National Programme Manager; Dave Elliott (Employee)
England Pathways Coach; Paul Sculthorpe (Consultant)
Head of England Operations; Jane Phillips (Employee)
RFL Head of Coaching and Player Development; Dave Rotheram (Employee)
Performance Analysis; Barry Frost (Consultant)
Tag: australia
Support England Rugby League tomorrow morning
Make sure you tune into BBC One tomorrow morning at 9am to watch England take on Australia in the final of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.ย
England, who are featuring in their first World Cup final for 22 years, will be looking to defeat an Australian side who have the won the competition a record 10 times and overcame England 18-4 in the opening game of the tournament.
Coverage starts on BBC One at 8:30am and everyone here at the Salford Red Devils would like to wish England the best of luck in the final. Bring it home.
The teams for tomorrowโs final are below:
Australia: Billy Slater, Dane Gagai, Will Chambers, Josh Dugan, Valentine Holmes; Michael Morgan, Cooper Cronk; Aaron Woods, Cameron Smith, David Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire.
Interchanges: Wade Graham, Jordan McClean, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Tyson Frizell.
England: Gareth Widdop, Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, John Bateman, Ryan Hall, Kevin Brown, Luke Gale, Chris Hill, James Roby, James Graham, Ben Currie, Elliot Whitehead, Sam Burgess.
Interchanges: Alex Walmsley, Tom Burgess, Chris Heighington, Jonny Lomax.
Salford’s last representative eliminated from the Rugby League World Cup
Manu Vatuveiโs Tongan side were knocked out of the Rugby League World Cup following a semi-final defeat at the hands of England on Saturday morning.
England opened up a 20-0 lead against the surprise semi-finalists with tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Gareth Widdop and John Bateman.
However, Tevita Pangai Junior, Siliva Havili and Tuimoala Lolahea all went over in the space of seven minutes for the Tonganโs to almost pull off a memorable fightback.
There was late controversy as Andrew Fifita almost went over for Tonga with the final play of the game but was adjudged to have dropped the ball following a collision with Elliot Whitehead which wasnโt sent to video referee Ben Thaler by referee Matt Cecchin.
Vatuvei was the last Salford representative at the Rugby League World Cup.
New signing Gavin Bennion, who featured for Wales in the World Cup, has been in training with the Red Devils while fellow countryman Craig Kopczak has also linked up with the side today.
Ireland international Tyrone McCarthy is set to be back in training in midweek while Vatuvei will re-join the squad in the next fortnight.
England are set to face Australia in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final at 9:00am on Saturday 2nd December with the game being live on both BBC One and Premier Sports.
Remember to see any ofย our World Cup stars in action in 2018 you can purchase your Season Ticket at the Club Ticket Office, over the phone on 0161 786 1570ย or online here. A list of all our ticket prices and their respective Direct Debit payment schemes can be found here with the Direct Debit option being available from the Ticket Office or over the phone.
NRL Grand Finalists to visit Red Devils
On Thursday 18th February at 10am, the North Queensland Cowboys will take part in an opposed training session vs the Red Devils. The NRL Premiers side features a number of Australian and New Zealand international stars, including 2015 Golden Boot winner Johnathan Thurston who was also the man behind the phenomenal golden point drop goal that led the Cowboys to their first NRL victory.
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The following day, the 19th February at 10am Grand Finalists Brisbane Broncos will visit the The Salford Stadium for their Captainโs run. The Broncos side features the likes of Anthony Milford, Sam Thaiday and Corey Parker. Wayne Bennett, Head Coach of the Brisbane side and newly appointed England Head Coach will also be attendance. Former Salford player Greg Eden has also been named in the Broncos squad to face Wigan and heโll return to the The Salford Stadium.
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Last year we welcomed the Broncos ahead of their victory against Wigan Warriors and the event was well attended by rugby league fans from across the country. Weโre therefore excited to have both the Broncos and the Cowboys joining the team here in Salford.
Red Devils Head Coach Ian Watson said, โThis is a fantastic opportunity for our squad to learn from some of the best rugby league players in the world. Itโll be a great experience for the whole team but especially for some of the younger squad members.โ
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Director of Rugby, Tim Sheens said, โItโs great that weโve been able to organise these events here at the stadium. To have both teams from what is arguably one of the best, if not the best NRL Grand Final in history training here is fantastic. Itโs a great chance for all fans of rugby league to come and witness these players in the flesh and see their skill.โ
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U16s will gain free entry to both events and Red Devils Season Ticket holders can visit the training sessions free of charge. There will be the chance to watch them train, get photos and autographs with the players.
We’re also offering any fans free entry to the event on production of a ticket for this Sunday’s Widnes Vikings game here at the The Salford Stadium.
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Non Season Ticket holders and fans from other clubs can gain entry to the event for just ยฃ3 per Adult.
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The training sessions are extra preparation for the Red Devils side ahead of their home tie vs Widnes Vikings on Sunday 21st February, KO 3pm. Tickets for this game will also be on sale at the The Salford Stadium during the event.
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