New St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has made his stance on the vacant England job very clear with a strong statement issued when speaking to Serious About Rugby League at the Super League season launch on Wednesday.
Since Shaun Wane’s resignation in January and the RFL admission that the role will likely become a part-time gig, thus meaning active coaches can be appointed, the race to become the next England coach has really heated up.
Adding to the incentive of coaching a national team is the fact that the Rugby League World Cup takes place at the end of the season with England’s opening game in that tournament likely to be the new head coach’s first game in charge.
Asked by Serious About Rugby League at Super League’s media day if he held any interest in the role or if he had been approached, Paul Rowley confirmed he would be ‘all over it’ if the opportunity arose.
“I’ve not been asked about it,” the St Helens boss said.
“I’m English, I played for England and to coach England, I’d be all over it.”
St Helens boss Paul Rowley “more than forthcoming” for England vacancy
It’s understood that no candidate has been approached yet with those heavily linked, including Willie Peters and Brad Arthur, previously denying any approaches but outlining their interest in the role.
However that pair are Australian with Rowley arguably the most-linked English coach and he spoke on his nationality when describing the chance to coach his national team as the ‘ultimate goal’.
He explained: “I’m English for a start so you sing that anthem with pride and I don’t think anyone could ever question Shaun Wane’s national pride and I think that’s what the overriding factor is.
“I’d love that opportunity, whether that be now or in the future, to coach England. That would be my ultimate goal.”
Asked about the circumstances around the role, namely the fact the World Cup would be the first task of any new coach, Rowley simply labelled it as a ‘bonus’ with the St Helens’ boss affirming again what it would mean to lead the national team regardless of a World Cup.
Rowley explained: “The fact that there is a World Cup this year is an added bonus but for me just being English and getting to represent your country as a player or as a coach is the ultimate honour.
“World Cup or no World Cup, it’s the ultimate honour and I’d be more than forthcoming if that opportunity arose.”
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