Former Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott has been appointed as England’s new head coach.
McDermott will lead his country to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia at the end of this season.
The Gold Coast Titans assistant coach will replace Shaun Wayne, who resigned in January after England’s 3-0 loss to the Ashes.
McDermott said: “I am extremely honored to be taking on the role of head coach of the England national team ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
“My focus now is to create an environment where our players can play with confidence, represent the uniform with pride and give themselves the best chance of advancing to the tournament.
Brian McDermott is the most successful coach in Super League history
“I have always been hands-on and detail-oriented and that will be important in this role. My job now is to set the standards right, build trust within the group and ensure we are ready when it matters.”
He was selected by a committee comprising Kevin Sinfield, the new Rugby Football League (RFL) non-executive director Sarah Symington, interim RFL chief executive Abi Ekku and RFL chairman Nigel Wood, with support provided by RFL executive director of performance and participation Mark Lovering.
In a statement, the RFL said McDermott would decide on his coaching staff “in due course”.
Sam Burgess, Steve McNamara, Brad Arthur and Paul Rowley were also interviewed for the role, and Mr Wood said Mr McDermott “came out of a strong pool of candidates”.
He added: “The selection process was comprehensive and thorough and the RFL would like to thank everyone who assisted in the process.”
“As the most successful coach in Super League history, Brian has proven his ability to build great teams, and his previous experience as an international coach has also demonstrated his knowledge of the unique challenges of utilizing players from different clubs in an international environment.
“Now working in the NRL gives Brian a day-to-day view of many of the opponents the England team will face, while also having a great network around the Betfred Super League clubs to help the England team maximize their chances of success.”
McDermott is Super League’s most successful manager, with his Leeds Rhinos teams winning four grand finals, including the iconic 2015 Golden Age treble-winning side featuring the likes of Sinfield, Rob Barrow and Danny McGuire.
McDermott began his tenure with the Rhinos in 2011 and remained there until 2018. He then took charge of the Toronto Wolfpack and helped them win promotion to the Super League in 2019.
After a short stint in charge of Featherstone Rovers, he headed to the NRL, serving as an assistant coach with the Newcastle Knights and now the Titans.
2026 Super League – Important dates and highlights
Paris Super League: Saturday 6 June: Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30pm UK (Sky Sports) Magic Weekend: 4 July – 5 July Rivals Round Reversal: 23 July – 26 July Elimination Play-offs: 19 September – 20 September Play-off Semi-Finals: 26 September – 27 September Grand Final: October 3rd, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season. Exclusively live, including two matches from each round, the remaining five matches will be shown weekly on Sky Sports+.
