Prescott appointed to RFL sub-committee
Former Warrior Paul Prescott is one of six new appointments to the RFL’s Performance and Coaching sub-committee.
Prescott, who won the Super League Grand Final and Challenge Cup whilst with the Warriors, was invited alongside applicants last November to ‘advise on the evolution of the high-performance strategy for Rugby League’ and to provide ‘guidance to the sport on all on-field performance and coaching related matters’ impacting the development and performance of England teams and programmes.
Since his retirement from rugby league in 2013, the former forward has been working in football with the Premier League as their Head of Operations.
Alongside Prescott in the sub-committee is Swim England’s Head of Performance Operations, Anna Garside, who worked for Leeds Rhinos and the RFL as a Performance Analyst before moving to roles in rugby union (Science and Medicine Manager for Premiership Rugby), the British Handball Association (Non-Executive Director) and British Show jumping (Head of Performance).
A third recruit with direct Rugby League experience is Head of Analytic Solutions for City Football Group, Bradley Pryjmachuk, who began his professional career as an analyst with Warrington Wolves before becoming Human Performance and Analytics Manager at the RFL and Performance Solutions Manager for the New South Wales Rugby League.
John Alder is the Head of Player Development for Welsh Rugby Union, leading on all aspects of the national men’s and women’s player development and performance pathways – having previously worked as Head of Performance Pathways at UK Sport / English Institute of Sport, as well as for the British Olympic Commission, Sports Coach UK, and New Zealand Rugby League.
Rachael Dawe is Head of Strategic Performance Initiatives for City Football Group, leading on research, innovation and learning. Originally a sports scientist, she conducted an independent GPS reliability review for the RFL in 2015, and also led Human Performance at the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP) for four years.
Ian Pyper is Head of Performance Support for the UK Sports Institute, leading teams for both British Wheelchair Basketball and British Triathlon. Originally a Strength and Conditioning Coach, Ian has worked through four Olympic and Paralympic cycles in a career of more than 17 years in elite sport. He also held central roles at two Commonwealth Games.
Former London Crusaders forward and St Helens and Scotland coach Dr Dave Rotheram, who is the RFL’s Chief On-Field Officer, and Tony Sutton, the RFL’s Chief Executive, will also sit on the sub-committee.
Speaking on the appointments, RFL non-executive director Dr Cherrie Daley, who chaired the first meeting, said: “Performance and coaching forms a critical area of the RFL’s responsibilities as the Rugby League’s National Governing Body, most obviously with the development and performance of our England teams.
“We were delighted by the quality of applicants for the new sub-committee, with our six appointments providing an outstanding range and depth of experience. We met for the first time earlier this month, and I’m excited by the positive support this group can offer to Dave Rotheram and the broader England Performance Unit staff.”
Tony Sutton added: “The appointment of Cherrie to the RFL Board, followed by Jamie Jones-Buchanan as a Board Observer, reflected the importance of on-field performance and coaching matters to the RFL as Rugby League’s NGB.
“The formation of this sub-committee, and the quality of individuals we have appointed, is further evidence of that commitment. We are grateful to Cherrie and Dave for the roles they have played in assembling such an impressive group. We look forward to their presence and influence around Rugby League over the next two years.”
The Performance and Coaching sub-committee becomes one of eight which report into the RFL Board. The others are Audit and Risk, the Brain Health Sub-Committee, Community Board, the Clinical Advisory Group, Laws Committee, Nominations and Remuneration.
