Shaw Cross announce new Head Coach

Steven Hughes

Photo belongs to Featherstone Rovers

National Conference League side Shaw Cross Sharks have announced the appointment of Paul March as their new Head Coach.

March has been involved in the professional game for 23 years as a player and a coach. He has over 300 appearances for Wakefield, Huddersfield, York, Hunslet and Keighley. The latter three of those clubs were in a Player-Coach position.

More recently, he became assistant coach at Featherstone in 2019. He was also appointed the Head Coach of their reserve side, before the competition was cancelled in 2020.

In 2021, he got to lead Featherstone out at Wembley for the 1895 Cup Final against his former club York. He did in the absence of James Webster, who tested positive for Covid-19.

Away from the professional game, March played for the Sharks back in 2017. He has also been a coach at the club.

March hoping for more stable time at the Sharks

Speaking to the club website, March said of his appointment: “I have had the coaching job here before. But I joined mid-season at a bit of a messy time for the club and it was all about bringing some stability.

“It probably wasn’t the right time for me to take it as I had a lot of other commitments. But I was asked to take charge and I couldn’t say no in the club’s time of need.

“Now that I’ve stepped away from the professional game I’m ideally placed to give this my all.

“The club have had a couple of lean years, results wise but I think the lads have turned a corner recently. The lads are all getting a bit of experience under their belts and we have some cracking young lads making their way up to open age rugby.

“There is a good vibe around the club and we’re really starting to see people having fun again, which is why we all play the game.”

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