Harris named new Wales boss
Iestyn Harris is Wales' record league points scorer
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By inthenews. |  |
Tuesday, 22, Sep 2009 05:10
By Martyn Thomas.
Iestyn Harris has been named as the new Wales coach with ex-boss Clive Griffiths as his assistant.
The appointment is Harris' first major coaching role, although the Featherstone player had been widely tipped to land the post.
Harris said: "I am really excited by the opportunity to help Wales Rugby League develop over the coming years and to bring through the young players who are showing such talent.
"I am very ambitious as a coach and Wales Rugby League has always been very close to my heart so I will be taking the role very seriously."
Harris represented Wales at both rugby codes and is his country's record points scorer in league with 165 in just 20 Tests. He also played for Wales at the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.
As well as being a dual-code international himself, Griffiths was previously the Wales coach between 1991 and 2000, a golden era for international league in the country.
Former Leeds and Bradford star Harris hailed the impact Griffiths had on his own career.
"Clive has been a big influence on my career over the last 15 to 20 years and he will bring a lot of experience and act as a father-figure to the players," he said.
Harris' first match in charge is against England in Bridgend on October 17th. Wales then face three rugbyleague.com European Cup matches in October and November.
The appointment of Harris and Griffiths means there is no place in the set-up for John Dixon, Anthony Seibold and Justin Morgan.
Wales Rugby League executive chairman Mark Rowley thanked Dixon for his time in charge: "We are sorry to see John Dixon leave and we wish him well as he returns to a new coaching position in Australia.
"Over the last four years, John has laid the foundations for the success of rugby league in Wales and for that we owe him a great deal of thanks."