West Cumbrian Gary Hewer has been appointed to the new coaching staff announced by England Community Lions.
He is to join the programme as Under-19s head coach with Stuart Simmons, of Pilkington Recs, as his assistant.
David Blinkhorn from the Dalton club in south Cumbria is one of several men’s development coaches who have joined the Lions’ programme.
Most recently Gary had been an assistant coach at Workington Town where he was head of development.
But he has a prominent pedigree in the amateur game, while he has also been involved in rugby union. A former Whitehaven professional, he was at the club in various roles including Scholarship manager, Academy coach and first team assistant.
With Cumbria RL he has worked as coach of the open age team and was head of the Cumbria Rep programme.
He was also the BARLA Open Age head coach in a tour of Fiji, while in the Cumberland ARL he was head coach and then head of rugby with the Distington club.
He has also worked as a coach with both England Under-15s and Under-16s.
On his latest appointment he said: “I’m honoured and privileged to have been given this opportunity as head coach of the Under-19s England Community Lions.”
He has also coached the Carlisle club in rugby union and was team manager of the Cumbria county side.
