THE next England head coach will be appointed on a part-time basis and only through to this autumn’s World Cup.
A panel which includes former England captain Kevin Sinfield will soon convene to interview candidates and recommend to the RFL Board their preferred candidate within the next few weeks.
On the panel alongside Sinfield, who won the 2012 Golden Boot as the world’s best player, will be new RFL non-executive director Sara Symington, interim RFL chief executive Abi Ekoku and new RFL chair Nigel Wood, with RFL performance director Marc Lovering offering support.
Wood, who is also chair of RL Commercial, said: “We are entering a crucial time as we bid to secure the right person to lead England’s men’s team into the upcoming World Cup.
“It is an exciting period for the sport, especially given how our athletes have already made such excellent starts to the new Super League season.
“The autumn’s Ashes series whetted the appetite for international rugby league and everyone here is looking forward to the prospect of heading to Australia at the end of this campaign for the 17th edition of the World Cup.
“We have had applications and enquiries from a wide-range of world-class coaches, from both here and in the NRL.
“With the aid of our newly-assembled panel, we will now conduct interviews to narrow down our shortlist in readiness to find the ideal candidate.”
England are looking for a new head coach after Shaun Wane stepped down in January, his six-year spell in charge ending with an Ashes series whitewash to Australia.
The role will be part-time, unlike it was for Wane, and initially just to cover the World Cup, which England open against Tonga in Perth on October 20.
Hull KR coach Willie Peters has ruled himself out but fellow Australian Brad Arthur, the Leeds Rhinos boss, said this week of the England role: “I’m interested in having a conversation when and if they want.”
Possible English candidates include Warrington Wolves’ Sam Burgess and Paul Rowley of St Helens.
Rowley recently told Sky Sports: “I have a burning desire to coach England”.