Warriors Complete Their Coaching Staff

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http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=5404

Wigan Warriors today announce the appointments of their remaining Coaching Staff for the new Season.

The Club confirms that Darren Fletcher will Coach the Under 20’s side with Matty Peet as his Assistant. Peter Williams has been appointed as the Coach of the Under 18’s with former Wigan player, Steve Hampson, as his number two.

Darren replaces Shaun Wane who is now Lead Assistant Coach with the First Team whilst Peter takes over the Under 18’s following the departure of John Pendlebury.

Darren has coached Rugby League for 12 years starting with representative schoolboy rugby before moving to the National Conference Premiership side, Wigan St Patricks, in 2006. In addition, he has coached at Lancashire County level and the Great Britain Community Lions. Darren played professionally at half-back in both codes of Rugby and is also a former British Olympic Wrestling Champion. Since 2002, he has also been the Manager of the Wigan Warriors Playing for Success Scheme. Darren takes over the very successful Wigan Reserve Grade side (now the Under 20’s) who finished top of the table in 2009 and were crowned Grand Final Winners.

Matty Peet will work alongside Darren with the Under 20’s squad. Matty began his Coaching career at Westhoughton Lions in addition to playing for Leigh Centurions. He has coached several Wigan and Leigh Service Area teams and the North West Counties under 18’s; he has also been involved for the last 18 months working with the Wigan Scholarship Players.

Peter Williams takes charge of the Wigan Under 18’s for 2010. Peter was born in Billinge and played rugby at both schoolboy and amateur level for St Patricks and St Judes before joining the Royal Navy. He joins the backroom staff with experience of Coaching at both Wigan St Pats and, for the last three years, with various age groups within the Wigan and Leigh Service Area. In 2009, the Wigan Under 18’s Academy were Grand Finalists and finished the regular campaign in 2nd spot.

Former Wigan player, Steve Hampson, joins the Coaching Staff for 2010 and will assist Peter Williams with the Under 18’s. Steve played for Wigan for 9 years making the full-back position his own between 1983 and 1992 making 304 appearances and scoring 55 tries, 48 goals and 3 drop goals; 319 points in total. He was also capped 12 times by Great Britain. He has coaching experience with Lancashire Lynx between 1999 and 2000 and has worked as a fitness conditioner for Sale Sharks, Lancashire CCC and in Rugby League at International level with Great Britain.

Speaking about the appointments, Chairman Ian Lenagan said:

“I am pleased that we have now completed Wigan’s Coaching structure for our Under 20’s and Under 18’s. Michael Maguire has been keen to promote promising young Coaches within the Wigan area. These additions go to show the quality of personnel on our doorstep and are further confirmation of the strong links the Club has with the Amateur teams in the Wigan area.”

Head Coach, Michael Maguire, added:

“We are pleased to have formalised the remaining appointments to the Coaching Staff. These are important positions within our backroom as the Club looks to continue the progression of young quality players through the Wigan ranks. I have worked closely with Shaun Wane over the last couple of months on these positions and am confident that we have an excellent team in place.”