Shaun Wane succeeds Wayne Bennett as England coach

Drew Darbyshire 03 Feb 2020 7:23 AM

Shaun Wane has been appointed England’s new head coach on a two-year contract.

Wane will return to rugby league after spending the last year working as high performance coach for Scottish Rugby.

The 55-year-old will take charge of his country in this year’s home Ashes series and the 2021 World Cup.

Wane spent eight seasons as coach of hometown club Wigan between 2011-18 – where the Warriors won three Super League titles, a Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge.

Wane said: “I am honoured to be appointed head coach of my country’s national team at such an exciting and important time for rugby league in England.

“We have a three-test Ashes series against Australia this autumn, and after that we host the World Cup in 2021.

“Everyone who knows me knows that I’ve always loved the game of rugby league, and been proud of British rugby league.

“I’m looking forward so much to starting work with the outstanding rugby league players we have in this country, and also the guys who have enjoyed success in Australia in recent years, to do all we can to win the World Cup next year.”

The RFL board believe that a full-time, UK-based coach is the best outcome following a review they conducted last autumn.

RFL chief executive, Ralph Rimmer, said: “After careful consideration of the review report, the RFL board concluded that a change of direction on the position of head coach was the next evolution alongside adopting several of the recommendations made.

“We are confident that one of the benefits of Shaun’s appointment will be to further build support for and belief in the national team from the rugby league community and know that he will work closely with the clubs within this process.

“I’d like to place on record on behalf of the RFL and England and Great Britain Rugby League our thanks to Wayne Bennett for his immense contribution as our head coach over the last four years, when England reached the 2017 World Cup Final and had an excellent home series win against New Zealand in 2018.

“Wayne is a very special coach and has taken us on a great journey. Once you see him operate up close then it becomes clear why he has been so successful, and each of our players who have experienced that will have benefited hugely – as have I.”