McNamara lands England job

Bradford boss Steve McNamara has been named as the new England head coach.

McNamara, 38, will combine the two roles for the remainder of the season before leaving the Bulls to take up the England post full time.

He said: “I think it’s everyone’s dream as a young boy growing up to play for your country or maybe sometimes coach your country and I’m proud to get the privilege to do that.”

McNamara succeeds Tony Smith who left the post after guiding England to the Four Nations final last autumn.

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said: “It has been a long and thorough process, but throughout it all it was clear that Steve McNamara was the right man for the job.

“Steve has shown an appetite to develop both personally and to help develop English coaching.”

McNamara will be assisted by Tony Smith’s brother Brian, and his first game will be the mid-season international against France in June, before the end of season Four Nations Down Under.