Treble winner Barry Eaton has rejoined Leeds Rhinos’ coaching staff in a surprise new role.
The former Keighley Cougars and Hunslet boss has been appointed as an assistant to women’s team coach Lois Forsell.
He will work alongside Richard Tillotson following his move from Women’s Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants Women.
Eaton was assistant to Rhinos men’s coach Brian McDermott from 2012-2018 and was a key member of Leeds’ backroom staff when they won the Challenge Cup, finished top of Super League and beat Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final to complete a clean sweep of domestic trophies 10 years ago.
Eaton and Tillotson replace Laura Wilson and Leon Crick. Wilson has left to spend more time with her family while Crick is a former assistant-boss who was interim-coach last season during Forsell’s maternity leave and supported the staff on match days.
Barry Eaton makes Leeds Rhinos’ return
A goal-kicking stand-off, scrum-half or hooker in his playing days, Eaton was capped four times by Wales and also featured for clubs including Doncaster, Wakefield Trinity, Dewsbury Rams, Castleford Tigers, Widnes Vikings, Batley Bulldogs and Keighley.
Tillotson, a Rhinos fan, played at semi-professional level for Dewsbury and joined Giants Women’s coaching staff in 2023. He was an assistant-coach with the Wales men’s under-18 side this year.
Forsell said: “I knew pretty early on last year Laura Wilson was going to be stepping back from her role and Leon had come back temporarily to support the team.
“Laura coached on the P2P [pathway to performance] and had been my assistant-coach for the last two seasons. She was fantastic for the club and I am grateful for all the work she put in.
“Last year we welcomed Barry Eaton in a consultancy role when Leon stepped back and I am delighted he has agreed to come on board in a more permanent role.
“He has been there and done it and won many trophies with the men’s team. He has been head-coach in the Championship so it’s great we can get someone of his experience to be part of the coaching set up.
“Having him in has also been massive for me in terms of that mentor role and the girls have all warmed to him. He’s brilliant with the squad in how he approaches getting them to learn and understand.”
Of Tillotson, she added: “He has been brilliant and like a breath of fresh air. He’s hard working, committed and passionate and knows his detail as well.
“The girls have enjoyed having him around because he is so keen and when you are training late on an evening it is good to have someone with that level of energy and we are lucky to have him.”
Check out the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show on our YouTube channel here.
