Seibold to leave Scorpions
South Wales Scorpions will be looking for a new head coach for 2011 as Anthony Seibold has decided to return to Australia for family reasons.
Seibold led the Scorpions to the Co-operative Championship 1 play-offs in their first season in Rugby League and has been responsible for the Rugby League development of many Welsh youngsters of all ages both at the Scorpions and in the growing Wales Rugby League academy system that he helped to set up and develop, earning himself the Championship 1 Coach of the Year award.
He has been offered a job in Queensland for 2011 as Head Coach of Mackay Cutters, the feeder club to North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL, and has accepted.
Phil Davies, chairman of South Wales Scorpions has thanked Seibold for his excellent work throughout 2011.
“When we launched the Scorpions in December 2009, we had no head coach, no players and no staff,” he said. “And when Seibs came along to head up the first open trial session in January this year with his enthusiasm, knowledge of the game and a desire to continue to develop Rugby League in South Wales, we knew instantly that he was the man for the job.
“Naturally I am disappointed to see him go but I perfectly understand his reasons. It has been a pleasure to work with him, I wish him all the best and I hope our paths cross again in the not too distant future.”
He will return on November 6th following his commitments as assistant coach with Wales in their Alitalia European Cup campaign and his final coaching job at his home ground at the Scorpions’ home ground at The Gnoll in Neath will be on Sunday 17th October when Wales take on Ireland (kick-off 2pm).
He will also resign from his position as “Head of Football” for Wales Rugby League following the tournament.
Seibold added: “It is with a great amount of sadness that for family reasons I will be returning to Australia next month.
“I have had eight of the past 12 years firstly playing and more recently coaching at every level of the professional game in the UK. I have been at London Broncos, Hull Kingston Rovers, Crusaders and this year at South Wales Scorpions. I am proud and very content with my input and commitment to the game in the UK in this time and have shown that I care about the development of the game here as an overseas player and coach.
“It has been a great life experience and I have enjoyed my time here immensely. I take home some terrific memories of my time at all four clubs but it is time to take the kids home closer to my parents and our family.
“I have been given the opportunity to continue my coaching career in Australia as Head Coach of Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup and this gives me a terrific opportunity to further my coaching education back home. The Queensland Cup is the highest standard competition outside the NRL and is somewhere between Championship and Super League. I feel that it is the next step in my coaching development and it will be a big challenge.
“I have no hesitation in saying that my ambition in the future is to come back and coach at Super League level as a Head Coach and feel this position would give me a further opportunity to allow me to develop as a coach. It also allows me to spend time closer to and with my family in Central Queensland for the short term and they have to be my priority at present.”