SHEFFIELD EAGLES have appointed Mick Piper as a new assistant coach.
Piper has previously worked as a coach, mostly at Academy level, at Bradford, Wakefield and most recently Huddersfield.
He also works with Scotland’s Under-18s as an assistant coach and in rugby union with Yorkshire RFU.
Piper, who linked up with the club last month, said: “I’m honoured and excited to join a club like Sheffield Eagles.
“We have a fantastic group of players who I’m looking forward to working with.
“I’m also keen to learn and develop further working alongside Craig (Lingard, head coach) and his experienced coaching staff.
“I appreciate the opportunity and am looking forward to having a great year.”
Lingard, who also has Craig Huby and Paul Broadbent to assist, said: “He’s been in and around the game for two decades and I’ve known him personally for a long time without coming across him in rugby, but his name was passed to me and we had a chat.
“Our views on rugby, how coaching should happen and how the game should be played were aligned and he’s come on board.
“Mike has taken responsibility for the outside backs. He’s very good in his knowledge of the game and educating players because that’s his background.
“He gives players exposure to a different voice.”
Sheffield lost Ben Jones-Bishop last week, with the winger joining Mitch Clark in leaving for York.
The 36-year-old “enacted a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the club”, the Eagles said.
Lingard is looking for replacements but doesn’t want any quick fixes.
“We started the season with a bit of a lighter squad anyway, then we’ve picked up several injuries since the start of the season so we’re down to 21 fit players,” said the coach.
“I’m not looking for any short-term loans, unless we’re desperate in a particular position.
“If we bring somebody in on loan it’ll be a longer-term loanee. Three months is the shortest I’d ideally like to take.”