RFL to appoint full-time England coach

The Rugby Football League have officially confirmed that the job of coaching England will revert to being a full-time role.

However, Nigel Wood – head of the RFL – suggested that more than one person may be appointed.
 
An appointment date has not been set, although it is thought an appointment will be made by a four-man panel, which may include Tony Smith.

Wood said that the RFL would not rush into an appointment, and are looking for a coach that can lead England into the 2013 World Cup in the UK.

“It is more important we get the right person rather than a quick appointment,” he said. “It needs to be part and parcel of a whole stream of measures the game is taking to give us the best possible chance in 2013.

“We will be looking wherever we need to look to get the right person, or indeed combination of persons if that is appropriate, over the course of time.”  

The Great Britain coaching job became part time when Brian Noble was appointed, and reverted to being part time when Smith was appointed.

During his tenure as England boss Smith took a job as head coach of Warrington Wolves, turning the England job into a part-time role once again.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan has been linked with the job, as has Ellery Hanley; Wakefield boss John Kear and England RU defence coach Mike Ford have already said they will not take the job.