Yorkshire Carnegie name former Leeds rugby league player Gary Mercer as new head coach
Friday 22 August 2014 16:13, UK
Yorkshire Carnegie have appointed former New Zealand rugby league international Gary Mercer as their new head coach.
The 48-year-old has been named as the successor to James Lowes, who left the club to take over at Super League side Bradford Bulls, ahead of the new Greene King IPA Championship season.
During his playing career Mercer enjoyed stints at Bradford, Warrington, Leeds and Halifax and after starting out as a coach in rugby league, he switched codes in 2004 to take up a role at Glasgow Warriors.
Gary enjoyed an exceptional career in League but has been involved in rugby union for a long time now and will bring that experience to his role as head coach.
He has since gone on to work for the Scottish Rugby Union in a number of roles, including being in charge of their Under 16 team.
"We are delighted to have secured Gary on a two-year contract and this marks an exciting time for the club," Carnegie director of rugby Chris Gibson told the club's official website.
"Gary enjoyed an exceptional career in League but has been involved in rugby union for a long time now and will bring that experience to his role as head coach.
"Tommy McGee, Dave Baldwin and Colin Stephens have done a great job in pre-season and laid solid foundations for the new campaign.
"We have one more pre-season game against Leeds Metropolitan University next Wednesday afternoon and then our attentions will firmly be set on Cornish Pirates and the opening game of the season."
