Mark Aston the head coach and driving force behind the Sheffield Eagles was today confirmed as the man selected to fill the vacant head coach role with Rugby League Ireland.
His appointment was announced at a press conference in Sheffield on Tuesday 24th May and he is confirmed in the role up to and including the World Cup scheduled to take place in the UK in 2013.
Ireland has been drawn in a group with Australia, Fiji and the England and Mark‟s first objective is to assemble a squad capable of being competitive at that event. Ireland ,beaten quarter finalists at the last World Cup in Australia in 2008, see the competition in the United Kingdom as a great opportunity to raise the profile of the game in Ireland are determined to improve on that performance next time out.
Along with the responsibility of recruiting, training and developing the Senior Wolfhound team Mark will also be responsible for developing and implementing a „Coach the Coaches‟ program with the 20 rugby league clubs in Ireland. .
A key part of Aston‟s job brief will be to revamp and expand the coach network in Ireland and his success in establishing a development structure at the Eagles was a big factor in his appointment.
Aston has no worries about fitting in international duties with his responsibilities at the Eagles.
He said: “There‟ll be no problems combining the two jobs, I‟ve gone into the job with my eyes wide open and I wouldn‟t have committed if I didn‟t think I could do it.
“I‟ve got the support of the Sheffield Eagles‟ directors and I won‟t be in Ireland every week, it‟s about planning to be there at the right times.”
Aston will first take charge of the Irish team when they face Scotland in the European Cup in Glasgow in October.
Before then he will be getting together a coaching team and it‟s likely he will try to persuade Eagles assistant coach Mick Cook to join him.
“It‟s not just about the head coach it‟s about the backroom staff as a whole and there are a lot people I need to talk to,” he said.
Gordon Matthews, Rugby League Ireland General Manager, said: “We feel that Mark with his energy and enthusiasm and the experience he has had at Sheffield where he has developed the club from the ground up brings the things we need to Rugby League Ireland.
“It’s a unique role as Head Coach and Mark came across to us as the man to do the job.”
For further information please contact Conor Kelly on 083 402 9646 or conor.kelly@rli.ie
