Kurt Haggerty joins Leigh coaching staff

Drew Darbyshire

Leigh have announced that their former player Kurt Haggerty has joined the club’s coaching staff ahead of the 2021 Super League season.

Haggerty, who turns 32 this week, made more than 150 appearances during his playing career for Leigh, Blackpool Panthers, Widnes, Barrow and Bradford. He earned two caps for Ireland.

Haggerty has been on Toronto’s coaching staff and was head coach of National Conference side Pilkington Recs between 2013-16.

Leigh coach John Duffy said: “Kurt knows the club inside out and has been on a pathway in his coaching career through the amateur and professional ranks.

“He is very intelligent, diligent and cares for the club and the people involved in it.

“He is a great addition for us as we look forward to the season ahead. Kurt took the decision to retire early as a player to become a coach and he has already had a great grounding with his long association at Toronto and his time in the community game.

“Kurt was a clever footballer, a brilliant player in my opinion, who was ahead of the coaching at the time with the way he played the game. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Haggerty said: “Leigh is a club that I always seem drawn to. I played here as a 19-year-old kid and came back in 2014-15 and enjoyed some good times here.

“There’s a special feel to Leigh and I’m really looking forward to the challenges ahead as we look to cement our place in Super League.”

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