Brian McDermott, the former head coach of Leeds Rhinos, has been named as the new head coach of the England rugby league team. He will lead the team in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. McDermott succeeds Shaun Wane, who resigned in January after England's 3-0 loss in the Ashes.
McDermott expressed his pride in taking on the role, stating that his focus is on creating an environment where players can perform confidently and represent the team with pride. He was chosen by a panel consisting of Kevin Sinfield, Sara Symington, Abi Ekoku, and Nigel Wood, with support from Marc Lovering. The RFL has announced that McDermott will decide on his coaching staff in due course. McDermott has a successful track record, having won four Grand Finals with Leeds Rhinos, including the 'golden generation' treble-winning team of 2015.
He has also coached Toronto Wolfpack and Featherstone Rovers, and is currently an assistant coach for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. The RFL chair, Nigel Wood, praised McDermott's capabilities, citing his experience in building successful teams and his knowledge of the challenges of international coaching. Wood also highlighted McDermott's current role in the NRL, which will provide him with valuable insights into the teams England will face in the World Cup.