Rooney named English Lions coach

Ian Rooney has been named as the new head coach of the English Lions.

The Wath Brow Hornets boss will begin his two-year tenure with immediate effect and has wasted no time in appointing his back room staff as Richard Owen and Colin Brown link-up as assistant coaches.

Owen (Wigan St Patricks) and Brown (Skirlaugh) complete a National Conference League trio of coaches whose first task will be to select and prepare the Lions squad for the defence of their Community Home Nations title later this summer.

Rooney, who enjoyed a great 2012 as he led the Hornets to the NCL title is delighted to be given the role and is looking forward to building on the great work done by previous incumbent Jimmy Taylor.

“It’s a great honour to be appointed English Lions head coach,” said a delighted Rooney.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Richard and Colin and I know they’re as excited as me about getting the chance to work with the best players from the community game.

“We’ll face some tough tests against Scotland, Ireland and Wales later in the year so the three of us will be constantly looking at players during the season as we look to name a strong squad for our title defence.”

For more information on the English Lions visit www.englishlions.co.uk