Brian McDermott is set to be appointed as the new head coach of the England men's rugby league team later this week, succeeding Shaun Wane. The 56-year-old, currently an assistant coach at NRL side Newcastle Knights, was chosen from a five-man shortlist that included Sam Burgess, Brad Arthur, Paul Rowley, and Steve McNamara.
McDermott is the most successful coach in Super League history, having led Leeds Rhinos to eight major honours, including a historic treble in 2015. He also coached London Broncos, Toronto Wolfpack, and Featherstone Rovers. His appointment comes after the RFL's initial target, Willie Peters, took up a role with Papua New Guinea's new NRL franchise.
The RFL conducted a wider search after Peters' departure, with Arthur emerging as a strong contender. However, the governing body sought assurances over his future at Leeds, which remained unresolved. McDermott was ultimately deemed the standout candidate and will be unveiled on Thursday.
McDermott's first major task will be to lead England at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia this autumn. England have not won the tournament in over 50 years, and McDermott will aim to end that drought following Wane's departure after a series whitewash by Australia in last year's Ashes.
