Super League: Powell back at London Broncos to replace Tigers-bound Higgins

Rob Powell is back with the London Broncos after being appointed head of youth following the departure of Darren Higgins to Castleford Tigers.

Powell re-joins the club having been appointed Harlequins RL head coach in November 2010 before stepping down from the position with London Broncos in July 2012.

His role will focus around the club's scholarship training programme and oversee the development of the junior players around London. He will also work with local clubs to identify players for the Broncos programmes and assist with development sessions for clubs and community coaches.

Rob Powell said: “It’s exciting times. You can tell by what Joey is trying to do that things are moving back in the right direction again. It fitted in with me to take a role back at the club.

“I've always been involved in both the development and player pathway as well as the performance elements, so although it's a different role here, I have spent time developing players at various ages and working with players in schools and clubs.

Important part

“I think it's such an important part of the club and it's really important we get it right. The experience the players, parents and community clubs have in contact with us is important and if we provide a positive and professional environment where development takes place there is more chance of progression up the ladder towards the first team, which is what it's about.”

Higgins has departed the Broncos to take on a new role in talent development with the Tigers, who finished fourth in Super League in 2014 and reached the Challenge Cup final.

"I'm delighted to be joining such a progressive club in a talent rich area and I look forward to working alongside Pete Riding and the clubs youth performance coaches,” he told the Tigers’ official website.

“At the same time I am sad to be leaving the Broncos as they enter an exciting new era under Head Coach Joey Grima.”