Andrew Henderson to coach new Sheffield club
Sheffield and Scotland hooker Andrew Henderson will be unveiled as the Head Coach of new community club Sheffield Hallam Eagles at a press launch at Bramall Lane on Friday.
Henderson, who is already Sheffield Eagles’ Player Performance Manager, will take on the role as the new club prepares for its debut season in Conference League South. He will work alongside Adam Hughes, the current Sheffield Hallam University first team coach and Sheffield Eagles’ Community Manager, and other Eagles coaches.
Andrew Henderson said: “I’m looking forward to working with the new Sheffield Hallam Eagles side. We see this as an integral part of our player performance pathway. Competing in Conference League South will enable our performance players and Sheffield Hallam students to continue their Rugby League education in a closely fought competition.
“The club has come together very quickly so we’ll have to hit the ground running straight away. If we do that, I’m confident that we can have a tilt at winning the league.”
The Sheffield Hallam Eagles Rugby League Club is the latest product of Sheffield Eagles successful partnership with Sheffield Hallam University. It will be both part of the University and Sheffield Eagles’ player performance pathway programme.
Sheffield Eagles and Sheffield Hallam University have enjoyed a successful working relationship for a number of years. Over the last three years a number of players from the Eagles Academy have gone on to study at the University whilst continuing within the Eagles’ performance pathway.
In addition, some talented Rugby League players from outside the Sheffield area have been attracted to the University because of its links with the professional club, who last season were crowned Champions of the Cooperative Championship following a nail-biting Grand Final win over Featherstone Rovers.
At present, 22 Sheffield Hallam University students are part of the Eagles set-up and these will make up a substantial part of the Sheffield Hallam Eagles squad, alongside current members of the SHU Student Rugby League side.
Sheffield Hallam Eagles will eventually play at the University’s new Graham Solley Centre at Bawtry Road when it opens in September.
Dan Porter, head of sport services at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “We are delighted to further the strategic partnership between Team Sheffield Hallam and Sheffield Eagles with the creation of this joint initiative. It will be of enormous benefit to the University in terms of player pathway and opportunity, recruitment of talented Rugby League playing students and awareness of the work that Team Sheffield Hallam is doing.
“This is another great example of the mutually beneficial and successful partnership between Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Eagles.”
The Sheffield Hallam Eagles will officially be launched at the club’s inaugural AGM, which is due to take place at Bramall Lane on Friday March 1, ahead of the Eagles Championship clash with York City Knights. The club’s first Conference League South game will be against Bristol Sonics at Don Valley Stadium on Saturday, April 6.