Brian McDermott Appointed England Rugby League Coach

Brian McDermott, the most successful coach in Super League history, was appointed as England's new head coach on Thursday, tasked with leading the national rugby league team into the 2026 World Cup in Australia. The 56-year-old Yorkshireman, currently an assistant at NRL club Gold Coast Titans, succeeds Shaun Wane, who stepped down in January after six years in the role, including a 3-0 Ashes series defeat to Australia last year.

McDermott's selection followed a comprehensive process by the Rugby Football League, which drew from a five-man shortlist including Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur, Warrington Wolves' Sam Burgess, St Helens' Paul Rowley, and former England coach Steve McNamara. The panel, featuring ex-Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield, favored McDermott for his proven track record. He guided Leeds to four Betfred Super League titles, two Challenge Cups, a World Club Challenge, and a League Leaders' Shield during an eight-year stint from 2011 to 2018, including a historic treble in 2015. Earlier, he coached Harlequins RL (now London Broncos) starting in 2006 and later led Toronto Wolfpack to promotion in 2019, along with a brief spell at Featherstone Rovers. Since moving...