Experienced Rugby League Coach Mark Applegarth Returns to York Knights
York, UK: In a major restructuring move, Rugby league club York Knights has announced the appointment of Mark Applegarth as their new head coach. Applegarth, a former player for the Knights, takes over the reins from Andrew Henderson, who will now oversee the club’s rugby operations and development.
Applegarth, who parted ways with Wakefield Trinity at the end of last season, is eager to get back into the game and lead the Knights’ charge in the Championship. York’s chairman, Clint Goodchild, expressed his excitement about Applegarth’s appointment, highlighting the coach’s ability to develop young players, motivate teams, and his determination to succeed.
“Mark has shown he can develop young players, can motivate teams, is hungry for success, has shown grit and determination and, importantly, is a former York player with over 100 appearances,” Goodchild said.
As part of the restructure, Henderson will now assume the role of Head of Rugby Operations and Development, a move that Goodchild believes will be crucial in the club’s plans to introduce a brand-new RFL licensed academy by 2026. The academy aims to nurture and develop homegrown talent, building on the club’s existing community engagement initiatives.
“Having identified the need for a Head of Rugby Operations & Development these past few months, the challenge then became who can fill such an important role,” Goodchild explained. “It was a shortlist that led me to internal discussions with Knights head coach Andrew Henderson and club general manager, Neil Gulliver, where the only obvious candidate was Andrew Henderson himself.”
The York Knights faithful can look forward to a smooth transition as Applegarth and Henderson work together to prepare the team for their upcoming Challenge Cup match against the Dewsbury Rams on June 16th. With the club’s renewed focus on developing local talent and strengthening community ties, the future looks promising for the York Rugby League Football Club.
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