Catalans dealt blow as Hull FC ‘swoop’ to make key addition

Catalans Dragons look to have been dealt a major blow as reports emerge that Hull FC have made the move to bring former head coach Andy Last back to the MKM Stadium.

That’s according to The Hull Daily Mail who are reporting that Last will join the Black and Whites for 2025 and form part of incoming head coach John Cartwright’s backroom staff.

It would mean that Andy Last has returned to Hull FC following his short spell in charge of the club in 2020. Last was appointed as an interim head coach after Lee Radford’s sacking back in March 2020, with the current Catalans’ assistant overseeing the final 14 games of the season.

He even guided Hull to the play-off semi-finals, the last such time that the Black and Whites have found themselves playing in the post-season.

Last’s time as interim head coach came after a long period working under Lee Radford, during which the club won back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017.

His reported appointment would see Hull FC bring back a familiar face who knows all about winning culture and specifically, what it means to win at Hull FC.

 Hull FC ‘re-sign’ Andy Last

After leaving Hull FC, Last would go on to work as an assistant and later interim head coach at Castleford Tigers before being appointed as part of Steve McNamara’s coaching team at Catalans Dragons.

He has also been involved in the England set-up alongside Shaun Wane since his time at Hull FC, something that he will presumably continue upon his return to the club.

The Hull Daily Mail first reported that Last would return to the club, claiming that a deal has been completed to ensure his return. He will join current interim head coach Simon Grix as an assistant under incoming head coach John Cartwright.

It’s reported that the deal was done in August with Director of Rugby Richie Myler “keen to bring someone who knows Hull FC inside out”, something that is undeniable about Last given his history at the club.

He is also incredibly highly respected in the coaching field and took charge of England in their mid-season international against France after it was confirmed head coach Shaun Wane could not travel after an operation on his ankle.

Last guided England to a 40-8 win over France in Toulouse that day but it seems he’ll swap France for Humberside in 2025 as he makes the move back to Hull FC.