 Harris represented Wales in league and union Rugby World Cups |
Dual-code international Iestyn Harris has taken an assistant's role in Wales rugby league's new coaching structure. Australian John Dixon replaces Martin Hall as coach, with Harris and Hull KR's Justin Morgan as his back-up team. Dixon will combine his role with his job at Celtic Crusaders, increasing speculation that Harris, 31, will join the Bridgend-based side next season. That is thought to be dependent on the Welsh club winning one of the 14 Super League franchises for next season.  | I know that Iestyn is looking to see what options he has after his playing career Wales dual-code great Jonathan Davies |
Harris, who turns 32 next week and has enjoyed a 13-year playing career, is in the final year of his contract with Bradford Bulls. "I know that Iestyn is looking to see what options he has after his playing career and this will be a great learning curve working underneath Dixon and with Morgan," said Wales dual-code great Jonathan Davies. "It will also be good for the young Welsh players, and it will be interesting to see what happens with the Crusaders getting a Super League licence for next year." Former Leeds captain Harris, who won 25 caps during his three-year stint in rugby union with Cardiff, was a member of the Welsh team that reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup in both 1995 and 2000. He signed for the Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff from league giants Leeds in a high-profile �2m deal in 2001. But he returned to the 13-man code in the summer of 2004 in a controversial switch to former club Leeds' arch rivals Bradford Bulls. | There are great developments going on in the game in Wales right now New Wales coach John Dixon |
Former Brisbane Broncos assistant Dixon has been in charge at the Crusaders for two-and-a-half years, and takes over from Hall, who pays the price for failing to qualify for this year's World Cup. "I'm delighted to be taking on the role, there are great developments going on in the game in Wales right now," said Dixon. "Wales has had many past glories based on elite players but what I see for Wales now is rugby league growing at grass-roots level. "We will hopefully have a Super League licence with Celtic Crusaders which creates a pathway for young Welsh players. "The RFL's decision to have the home nations represented by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on a permanent basis creates the opportunity to develop a Welsh identification that we can promote and take forward." Dixon's assistant Morgan is a former Welsh international, who won 10 caps from 2000-3 before becoming the youngest coach in Super League. | 606: DEBATE |
At just 29, Australian Morgan made a name for himself by guiding French team Toulouse to the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 2005 and took Hull KR into Super League in his first full season before turning them into play-off contenders this year. The Wales backroom staff is completed by the appointment of Anthony Seibold as strength and conditioning coach, with John Devereux continuing as team manager. The opening game for the new coaching team will be against England at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium on Friday, 10 October. That fixture will be the final warm-up game for England ahead of their assault on the World Cup, but is unlikely to include any players from the Super League Grand Finalists.
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