Former Super League player to coach Brazil at World Cup

Former Super League winger Matt Gardner will coach the Brazil women’s team at the 2021 World Cup.

Gardner, 34, played for Huddersfield, Salford and Harlequins in the top flight, as well as turning out for Widnes and Leigh.

His mother, Tereza Dos Santos, was born in Brazil and that resulted in Gardner turning out for the nation at Rugby Sevens at the 2016 Olympics.

The Brasileiras has become the first Latin American side in history to qualify for a World Cup, and will be one of eight teams to line-up at the women’s tournament in 2021.

He will be assisted at the 2021 Women’s World Cup by Andrew Charles, a former assistant coach with Australia’s national female team, the Jillaroos.