Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Following the departure of Chris Chester earlier this week, Castleford Tigers are pleased to announce that Richard Pell has been promoted to Reserve Grade Head Coach, with ex-Castleford and Gt Britain player Tony Marchant and Stephen Ellerker as his assistants.

Head of Youth Development Steve Gill said: “It is just reward for Richard who is promoted to Assistant Reserve Grade coach after a successful first year with the Tigers Junior Academy where he led them to the Grand Final play off series in last years Academy Championship. He has also worked closely with the development of the clubs junior elite players.

“Tony needs no introduction and is a welcome addition to the Tigers backroom staff. He has been working on the clubs highly successful scholarship with the clubs Under-16s age group, and has been doing some conditioning work with the Academy, he obviously has had a tremendous playing career, playing at the highest level, and also was successful as a coach previously with the Tigers U-18s where he assisted Dean Sampson in the clubs 2004 academy championship winning season.

Richard said: “It is a honour to be given this opportunity to coach at this level at the Tigers, my hometown club, and look forward to working with the calibre of people we have at the club.”

Tony said: “I am so excited by the challenge, the clubs development of junior players has increased 10 fold since I was last involved, how do I feel to be back? – I’m Buzzing!”

Steve added: “As a club we would like to go on record in thanking Chris Chester for the job he did whilst he was here, he brought quality and professionalism in everything he did whilst at the club, although sad to lose him we understand fully his reasons for leaving. But it shows the quality of personnel we have around at the club when our reserve grade coaches are head hunted and offered senior positions at another Super League club.

“We feel it is testament to the quality of personnel we have within our development structure, that we have been able to move quickly and had no hesitation in promoting Richard and Tony from within the clubs own system”.