Hull FC’s interim head coach Andy Last has been confirmed as a new addition to Shaun Wane’s team of England coaching staff, alongside Paul Wellens.
Wane, who took over as England Head Coach in January, had been planning to announce the appointments at a first gathering of players and support staff at Old Trafford last month.
That gathering was postponed because of the restrictions on movement and social interaction announced by the Government.
However, both Last and Wellens joined a webinar this week at which Wane addressed coaches and support staff of all teams in the England Performance Unit about “Developing Winning Behaviour and Standards”.
Last is a former England Academy coach and has been a key figure at the Black & Whites since retiring as a player in 2004. Initially becoming the club’s head of youth development, he then became assistant coach to Richard Agar, and then Lee Radford.
Last is currently the interim head coach at the club having been appointed to take the reins following the departure of Radford last month. He gained senior international experience as a member of the Scotland coaching staff at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Meanwhile, Wellens, who is 40, has moved on to the St Helens coaching staff since ending his outstanding playing career for his hometown club in 2015. He earned 37 caps for England and Great Britain, won the domestic game’s three major individual honours – the Harry Sunderland Trophy, the Lance Todd Trophy, and the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award – and was a member of the England coaching staff for the 2017 World Cup and the home series win against New Zealand in 2018, before taking a break last year.
Shaun Wane said: “These are two important appointments for me, and I’m delighted to have Andy and Paul on board. They are both vastly experienced, and they are the sort of characters I want to have involved with my England set-up.
“They’re decent men; and they work hard. I’ve had long chats with people who have worked with them as head coaches, and the feedback has been fantastic. I’m really pleased to have the chance to get two very smart rugby people on board.”
The Rugby Football League wishes to place on record thanks and appreciation for the contributions of Danny Ward and Ian Watson as assistant coaches to Wayne Bennett during last autumn’s Great Britain tour, and also to the former national captain Jamie Peacock who has stepped down as team manager after a number of years working with the England and Great Britain teams.
Peacock will be succeeded by Colin Maskill, who represented five Yorkshire clubs in a long and distinguished playing career, and has since worked in a number of roles in the game and also in logistics with the sportswear specialists ISC.
Ralph Rimmer, the RFL chief executive, said: “We paid tribute to Kevin Sinfield and the immense contribution he had made to the England Performance Unit when he stepped down in January, and it is right that we do likewise for Danny Ward, Ian Watson and Jamie Peacock for their efforts with Great Britain last autumn, and in Jamie’s case stretching back several years with England and Great Britain.
“They have all made a significant contribution, for which we are grateful. I know they were all proud to work with the national team, and I hope they feel the experience was beneficial as well as enjoyable.”
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