BURTONWOOD Bridge open-age rugby league team have a new coaching set-up and are recruiting for the 2025 season.
Phill Rice, a player in the side for 18 months and current men’s pathways coach at Warrington Wolves, is the new head coach.
His assistants are Rob Fairclough, a former St Helens, Swinton and Rochdale player taking up his first coaching role, and Paul Lawton, the current under 15s coach at the club who is making the jump to open-age level.
In just a few years the club have risen to North West Men’s League Division One from Division Four and aim to build on this platform.
“It’s always going to be nerve-wracking to take a group of lads that you have taken the field with over the past 18 months,” said Rice, a PE teacher at Great Sankey High School.
“However, I feel confident with the pre-existing group of players, as well as what will hopefully be plenty of new recruits, that we can continue to improve on the progress made by the club in recent years.
“I’m extremely confident in my ability and experiences that I can improve players, and pretty ambitious in regards to potential improvement opportunities for the club to move forward and be a prominent rugby league organisation across Warrington and St Helens.”
He added: “I’m thrilled about having Rob and Paul on board to help improve the players on the field.
“Rob has had a fantastic playing experience and will add loads of detail to us, while Paul, who currently takes a lead on the development of the club’s under 15s, will help to strengthen the connection between the juniors and the open-age team for years to come.”
The open-age team are recruiting healthily and will host a ‘2025 Season Launch’ session at Victoria Park, Warrington, tomorrow.
Details are available by contacting any of the club’s social media platforms.
“We encourage players who can improve the club and continue its growth to come down and give it a try,” said Rice.
“There is loads to be excited about for Burtonwood rugby league in 2025 and beyond.
“The club have been awarded a grant to upgrade the club’s facilities and are actively looking for local businesses to partner with in terms of sponsorship that will go towards playing kit, leisurewear and equipment for Burtonwood rugby players as young as the ‘pups’ team, all the way up to our open-age team.
“I’m hoping that this funding can assist with the future of the club and that I personally can leave the club in a better position than I found it, with the priority of improving the player pathway of the club by having more youth teams that can bridge the gap between under 16s, under 18s, a consistent second team and a competitive first team.”
Previous Burtonwood Bridge head coach Matt Wilson has joined the coaching team at Crosfields.
“The committee is very much looking forward to supporting Phil with his vision for the development of the team and bringing a new vibe to the wider club community,” said Gary Maddock, chairman of Burtonwood Bridge.
“We are confident that Rob will add value across the board but certainly in attacking shape.
“Paul has spent nearly a decade guiding successful teams through our junior section, the Burtonwood Bulldogs, and we are looking forward to seeing the range of skills and ideas he can bring to the big boys.”
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