Peter Smith is to return as head coach at Kells after three years in a director of rugby role with the Whitehaven club.
He “moved upstairs” after the 2018 season with Mark Ryan taking over for a season and then Stephen Kirkbride was in charge for the Covid-affected 2020 and 2021 season.
With Kirkbride now joining Whitehaven under head coach Jonty Gorley, Kells have been looking to make a new appointment for 2022.
Smith said: “We have talked to a couple of possible replacements but it was just not the right time for either of them because of their circumstances right now.
“Time is getting on and we need to be starting serious training in the New Year. I always said I wouldn’t see the club stuck and I will get back into it.
“I know I can rely on some good lads with me in the coaching team and we are looking forward to starting off again with the first game in March.
“For the last three years I’ve been part of the club committee so I have a better appreciation of what goes on to keep Kells RLFC ticking over. The people on this committee do a terrific job.”
Smith is a one club man in the amateur game, starting at Under-15’s level with Kells and going through to open age before joining Whitehaven where he later coached and worked alongside top coaches including Paul Cullen and Steve McCormack.
He also combined Whitehaven duties with coaching Kells and, in fact, did 19 consecutive seasons with the amateur club before standing down.
It was while he was in charge that Kells won promotion from the National Conference League’s Third Division to the Premier Division in consecutive seasons.
“We are now in Division One so our aim has to be to get back into the top flight. We have a number of good, young players and with some seasoned campaigners alongside I think we can certainly challenge,” he says.
