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Iestyn Harris win international coaching award‏

Tuesday 8th December 2009

Wales Rugby League's head coach Iestyn Harris has been named as the official
Rugby League International Coach of the Year by Rugby League World magazine.
 
 
 
Harris, who is now working as assistant coach to Brian Noble and Jon Sharp
at Crusaders Rugby League, beat off more experienced coaches like
Australia's Tim Sheens and Papua New Guinea's Adrian Lam to claim the 2009
gong after leading Wales to European Cup Final victory last month.
 
 
 
Rugby League World magazine wrote: "Iestyn Harris improved Wales at a rate
that no-one could have expected. Their performance against England was a far
cry from their humiliation 12 months earlier, and under his astute coaching
they went on to lift the European Cup in impressive fashion."
 
 
 
It is a big award for Harris following his first year in coaching. The
record points scorer for Wales with 165 in 20 appearances and with over
1,000 goals scored in total, he has had an outstanding playing career for
Warrington, Leeds, Bradford, Featherstone and Wales. Now, his coaching
career has got off to the best of starts.
 
 
 
Wales Rugby League's executive chairman Mark Rowley said: "This is really
fantastic news. It's good to see such a young coach getting the recognition
that he deserves. Iestyn has turned the Wales team around on and off the
field, he has brought team spirit and passion back into the Welsh side. That
showed on the field and that's why we won the European Cup this year. If he
does half as much for the Crusaders as he's done for Wales then the future
of rugby league here, both at club and international level, is in great
hands."
 
 
 
General Manager for Wales, Caro Wild said: "We're incredibly proud of
Iestyn's award. He has brought together a group of young Welsh born rugby
league talent in his first senior coaching position and turned them into
champions. He has an outstanding future ahead of him."