Crusaders boss Iestyn Harris has named former Wales team-mate Barry Eaton as his assistant on a two-year deal.

Ex-Batley, Dewsbury and Widnes scrum-half Eaton has spent four seasons in charge of Championship club Keighley.

He told BBC Radio Leeds: "Super league is the pinnacle of rugby league and to get the chance to work at this level was too good an opportunity to miss."

Eaton succeeds former Huddersfield Giants boss Jon Sharp, who left last month along with coach Brian Noble.

He added: "I'm going to be working with players on a full-time basis, day-to-day, so that's going to be a new challenge.

"I've been at Keighley for five years as coach and I like to think I've done a pretty decent job and will be leaving them on a good footing.

"I'm really gutted that I'm leaving such a great club and great people but you have to move on and the opportunity was such that I had to consider it deeply."

Sharp, like Harris, one of Noble's assistant coaches at the Racecourse Ground last season.

"I am thrilled to have Barry on the Crusaders coaching staff," said Harris.

"He was a class act on the field and has proved to be a class act since moving into coaching.

"I've played alongside Barry for Wales and, on the field, he was always a committed, passionate, skilful and determined player.

"These qualities are evident in his management style and, in the way Keighley played, and his experience and knowledge of the game will help make us an even stronger outfit in 2011."

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