Wane confirms backroom appointments

Shaun Wane has confirmed the appointment of Hull FC's Andy Last and St Helens coach Paul Wellens to his England coaching staff. 

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. 

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, 38, is a former England Academy coach who has become a key figure at Hull FC since retiring as a player in 2004, initially as head of youth development before becoming assistant coach to Richard Agar then Lee Radford – and 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. 

????????????????????? Shaun Wane appoints Andy Last and Paul Wellens to his #EnglandRL coaching staff.

👉 More: https://t.co/9mDqAfv6GX pic.twitter.com/G80POmzuNa

— England Rugby League (at ???) (@England_RL) April 15, 2020

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 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.?? 

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.??