Latest news with #ARLC
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Kevin Walters named Australia Kangaroos rugby league coach
Kevin Walters. Photo: Photosport Kevin Walters has been announced as the new head coach of the Australia Kangaroos for this year's Ashes series in England. Walters, a former premiership player with the Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders, takes over from Mal Mengina, who has been appointed as the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears franchise. Current Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner has been extended through the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, but the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) only said Walters had been appointed coach for the 2025 Ashes tour. "The commission is very pleased to confirm Kevin Walters as the Kangaroos coach for this historic series," ARLC chair Peter V'landys said. "As Kangaroo number 612, Walters is very well placed to lead the national team on a historic tour to the UK. "Kevin has played for the Kangaroos, had a successful coaching career with Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons, and will bring that expertise into the national team for the Ashes. "Kevin has toured with the Kangaroos as a player, was a leader as a player and as a coach. His coaching pedigree is a natural fit for the national team." Walters played 11 Tests for the Kangaroos and was part of the 1990 and 1994 tours of Great Britain and France. "It is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to coach the Kangaroos on such a stage," Walters said. "Playing on a Kangaroos Tour was always a pinnacle as a player, so to be able to lead the best of the best in this environment is very humbling and obviously very exciting. "This series will be an important step for the growth of international rugby league and for the Kangaroos. I can't wait to get started." Walters was the coach of the Broncos from 2021 to 2024, leading the club to a grand final appearance in 2023 before being sacked the following year as the side slumped to 12th with a 10-14 win-loss record. Walters also coached Queensland in four State of Origin series from 2016-2019, winning two series. The Jillaroos travelled to Las Vegas in March and beat England 90-4 in their only match under Skinner, who took over from Brad Donald after a successful but turbulent tenure with the national women's team. "I've really enjoyed the chance to coach at this level, so to be given the opportunity to coach the Jillaroos through the 2026 World Cup is incredibly exciting," she said. "The women's game is experiencing continued and significant growth, so to be part of the journey at this level is a real honour." -ABC
7NEWS
6 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
ARLC unveil Kevin Walters as new Kangaroos coach, Cameron Smith not given opportunity to present
Kevin Walters won a World Cup final for Australia with a famous pass as a player and now he gets to coach the Kangaroos on the three-Test tour of England. Walters has been confirmed by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) as the new Australia coach for the tour of England, edging out NRL legend Cameron Smith for the job — but challenges already loom on the horizon. The 57-year-old replaces new Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga with doubt hanging over whether he will have key trio Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on board for the first three-Test Kangaroo tour in 22 years. The three are considering pledging their allegiance to Samoa for the upcoming Pacific Cup. Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of the following year. His contract with the ARLC is just for the three Tests at the end of season but if successful there is a strong chance he would be retained for next year's World Cup to be hosted in Australia and Papua New Guinea. 'It is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to coach the Kangaroos on such a stage,' Walters said. 'Playing on a Kangaroos Tour was always a pinnacle as a player, so to be able to lead the best of the best in this environment is very humbling and obviously very exciting. 'This series will be an important step for the growth of international rugby league and for the Kangaroos. I can't wait to get started.' Former NSW coach Brad Fittler turned down the opportunity to replace Meninga while former Kangaroos coach and current South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett was ruled out of contention by the Commission due to his club responsibilities. Former Australia captain Smith told Nine on Monday night that despite being interested in the coaching role, he was not given the opportunity to present his case. He did receive notification from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys that Walters had got the job. 'He gave me a phone call to let me know the decision was made to go with Kev and that was about it,' Smith said. 'I'm happy with that decision, I respect that decision. 'If I had an opportunity to put my case forward I would've but the decision was made by the game's hierarchy to go with Kevvie and I think it's a great appointment.' During the conversation Smith said V'landys spoke about a possible assistant role. 'That could be something to look at but I've not had any further discussions with Peter or Andrew Abdo or anyone in the NRL about that,' he said. Walters played 12 Tests for Australia and was a hero of the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The Kangaroos were trailing 6-4 when Walters came off the bench to throw a classic 'out ball' to his Brisbane teammate Steve Renouf who scored the match winner in 10-6 win. Walters was a proven winner as player on his way to six premierships (five with Brisbane, one with Canberra) and 20 State of Origin games for Queensland.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kevin Walters will coach the Kangaroos in three matches against England after replacing Mal Meninga
Former Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters called it an ' honour and a privilege' after being handed the reins of the Australian team for this year's three-test tour of England. Walters replaced Mal Meninga, who quit the post to take charge of the NRL's new Perth franchise and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'Landys said he was 'well placed' to deliver a series win. Having played 11 Test matches for the Kangaroos and been part of the 1990 and 1994 Kangaroo Tours, Walters has three matches to press his claims to take on the gig full-time. 'Playing on a Kangaroos Tour was always a pinnacle as a player, so to be able to lead the best of the best in this environment is very humbling and obviously very exciting,' he said. 'This series will be an important step for the growth of international Rugby League and for the Kangaroos. I can't wait to get started.' He was chosen ahead of Storm and Queensland legend Cameron Smith, who could yet assume full-time duties in 2026 should the ARLC decide on a change after the Ashes. ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys AM said he was pleased to confirm two highly-respected and talented people to guide the Australian national teams. 'The Commission is very pleased to confirm Kevin Walters as the Kangaroos coach for this historic series,' Mr V'landys said. 'As Kangaroo number 612, Walters is very well placed to lead the national team on a historic tour to the UK. 'Kevin has played for the Kangaroos, had a successful coaching career with Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons, and will bring that expertise into the national team for the Ashes. 'Kevin has toured with the Kangaroos as a player, was a leader as a player and as a coach. His coaching pedigree is a natural fit for the national team. The ARLC also extended the tenure of current Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner through the 2026 World Cup. 'Jess Skinner had significant success in her first outing as Jillaroos coach in Las Vegas earlier this year,' V'Landys said. . 'Jess has progressed through the coaching pathways and is a fantastic choice to lead Australia's most prolific national women's team until the end of the World Cup.' The Ashes Tour will include Test matches at Wembley Stadium (October 25), Everton Stadium (November 1) and Headingley (November 8), while the Jillaroos will compete for the Pacific Championships in October this year.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Walters to coach Australia for England series
Kevin Walters says he "can't wait to get started" after being named Australia's head coach for their autumn series against former Brisbane Broncos head coach, who led Queensland through four State of Origin series', has been given a three-match deal to lead the men's team for the Ashes 57, replaces Mal Meninga, who left in June after the announcement that he would be taking charge of new NRL club Perth Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has also confirmed Jess Skinner will continue as coach of the women's team through to next year's World Cup. Australia's men face England at Wembley on 25 October, Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium on 1 November and AMT Headingley on 8 November, with all three matches to be shown live in the UK by the BBC. The Tests at Everton and Headingley are already sold said: "It is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to coach the Kangaroos on such a stage."He was part of the Kangaroos squad that toured Great Britain in 1990 and 1994, although he only played in Tests on the latter tour."Playing on a Kangaroos tour was always a pinnacle as a player, so to be able to lead the best of the best in this environment is very humbling and obviously very exciting," added Walters, who had a short spell at Super League side Warrington in 2001 and coached Catalans Dragons from 2009-10."This series will be an important step for the growth of international rugby league and for the Kangaroos. I can't wait to get started."Meninga's decision to take up the role with Perth Bears forced him to step down in June as ARLC rules prevent the national team head coach from holding a club job at the same Australia captain Brad Fittler, a three-time World Cup winner, had been favourite for the post until ruling himself out of the running, citing his media commitments. Cameron Smith, another ex-Kangaroos captain, was also a chairman Peter V'landys said: "Kevin has toured with the Kangaroos as a player, was a leader as a player and as a coach. His coaching pedigree is a natural fit for the national team."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kangaroos captain endorses next green and gold coach
Isaah Yeo has endorsed Kevin Walters as Australia's next coach, with the Kangaroos captain labelling the Brisbane legend a man people want to play for. Walters is expected to be announced as Mal Meninga's successor this week, with the ARL Commission (ARLC) finalising plans to unveil him ahead of this year's Ashes. It comes after Meninga was forced to step down upon taking on the Perth Bears job last month, while the ARLC has ruled out having a club coach in charge. Walters' appointment will mark his return to coaching, after being axed by Brisbane at the end of 2024. He previously led Queensland in State of Origin from 2016 to 2019. Yeo has never previously worked with Walters, with his only dealings being in post-match interviews or playing against him while in charge of the Broncos. But he has spoken to a number of players about the 57-year-old, and was happy to have him take over the Kangaroos ahead of the Ashes and 2026 World Cup. "You can see how much he meant to the players by talking to the Broncos boys," Yeo said. "If it wasn't for Nathan Cleary killing it for 16 or 17 minutes then he'd be a premiership-winning coach. Everyone I've spoken to has massive raps on him. "He's come out and said how much of an honour it'll be to be able to coach Brisbane, Queensland and his last one was going to be Australia. "I'm super excited for him. You can see how much it means to him already and I'd love to be a part of it with him." Walters' appointment will give him three months to prepare for the Ashes, with the first Test against England at Wembley Stadium on October 25. That short lead-in had been part of Brad Fittler's reasoning to withdraw from the race, while also concerned about juggling media commitments. It is for that reason Yeo is happy a coach has finally been appointed, and that Walters is able to fully focus on the tour without worrying about a club side. "That's probably where it's gotten a little bit hard for whoever was going to come in because it's going to be rushed for them," Yeo said. "It'd be hard being an NRL coach and having to worry about a push to the finals and then you're trying to do this stuff on top of it. "It's nice that it's all done and sealed and we can now get to planning what will hopefully be a successful series over there. "He's been pretty busy, Kev, doing a lot with Fox (Sports) at the moment. But it certainly helps because he's now got three months to try to figure it out." Walters' appointment comes after Cameron Smith also put his hand up for the job, while the ARLC's no-club-job approach ruled out Wayne Bennett.
