Hull KR appoint ex-England coach Tony Smith

New Hull KR coach Tony Smith Credit: Hull KR

Former England coach Tony Smith is back in rugby league after being appointed as the successor to fellow Australian Tim Sheens at Hull KR.

Smith, 52, had been out of the game since leaving Warrington at the end of the 2017 campaign, when he was the longest-serving coach in Super League.

Smith, who was England coach from 2006-09, continued to live in Yorkshire dating from his spells at Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos.

He will take up the Rovers job immediately after being appointed initially until the end of the season. His first game will be against Wigan at KCOM Craven Park on Sunday.

Smith takes over a team second from bottom of Super League and facing the real threat of relegation after winning just five of their 16 matches so far.

He said: "With the talent available, there's a good, strong chance of climbing the ladder to a place which is far greater to where we are at this moment.

"I'm looking forward to that journey and development of players. I've had a lot of experience over the years at all the clubs that I've been at, where they haven't been in ideal situations when I've taken over.

The former England coach added: "There's a lot of players that I admire within the team, what they do, but it's now up to me to get the best out of them, as well as getting the best out of one another. That's what a team is about."

Smith's appointment is part of a shake-up of the backroom team at Hull KR, who recently appointed John Bastian as head of youth and will make Danny McGuire their recruitment manager when he hangs up his boots at the end of the season.

  • Hull KR appoint ex-England coach Tony SmithA former player with St George Illawarra, Smith began his coaching career with Huddersfield in 2000.

  • He paid his own fare to fly to England for the interview.

  • Guided the Giants back to Super League before resigning

  • Spent four seasons with Leeds, taking them to two Grand Final victories, before being appointed as coach of Great Britain.

  • Smith took out UK citizenship, shortly before taking England to the 2008 World Cup,

  • Stepped down from the post at the end of 2009 to return to full-time club coaching at Warrington.

  • Steered the Wolves to their first Challenge Cup triumph for 35 years in his first season with victory over his old club Huddersfield.

  • He guided them to two more Wembley triumphs, in 2010 and 2012.