Former Wakefield Trinity boss Mark Applegarth appointed as Championship Head Coach – Total Rugby League

MARK APPLEGARTH has been appointed head coach of the York Knights.

In a move that will see current head coach Andrew Henderson become head of rugby operations and development at the Knights, Applegarth returns to rugby league for the first time since being kicked out by Wakefield Trinity at the end of the 2023 Super season League.

That elimination followed Wakefield’s first relegation for the first time since 1998, with Applegarth able to muster just four wins all season.

A statement from York chairman Clint Goodchild said: “The 2024 Championship season has brought with it a rollercoaster of emotions and results. There’s no doubt that at the halfway mark of the season, the Knights are not where we set out to be on the ladder. The challenges presented by injuries and suspensions early in the season led to many of the inconsistent performances. I feel like we haven’t seen our best team on the field yet. Through no fault of any player or staff member, this streak of misfortune has taken its toll on the playing group and coaching staff.

“While there is a serious element of ‘bad luck’ in the current standings, it would be poor form not to look at all the potential areas we need to improve in order to gain consistency on and off the field. Players, coaches, staff and supporters have all stepped up to be counted on in this raw run of results. I think we have an exceptional group of players here at the Club and we will continue to add further pieces as we progress into the second half of the season.

“Following a review of the performance and talent development departments at the club, I have decided to bring forward plans to restructure performance and invest in stronger player development pathways. We are focusing on a long-term plan which includes the intention to launch a licensed York RLFC Academy in 2026, while providing additional support to the Knights squad in the immediate future.

“I think now is the time to implement the new full-time position of Head of Rugby Operations and Development. This position will be responsible for improving the day-to-day operations of rugby to drive higher standards and provide support to the Knights and Valkyries as the increased demands of Super League, the RFL and IMG continue to consume more time and resource performance, medical and back-office employees.

“While we believe a Head of Rugby Operations role is necessary, we are also committed to launching an RFL-licensed Academy in 2026. To achieve this, we will need to start taking immediate action to build systems of proven track record and to strengthen community relationships to attract the best of York’s future homegrown stars. While we have consciously sought to recruit and develop York players through the Excel programme, the Foundation’s community action sessions and the recruitment of ‘York Kids’ from other clubs, now is the time to take serious action to build a bridge to secure talent autochthonous enters the RLFC Academy in York.

“Having identified the need for a head of rugby operations and development over the last few months, the challenge then became who can fill such an important role. It was a shortlist that led me to internal discussions with Knights head coach Andrew Henderson and the club’s managing director Neil Gulliver, where the only obvious candidate was Andrew Henderson himself. His first-hand experience in developing player pathways at all levels, his knowledge of the challenges that come with coaching in a part-time environment, and his experience of being in a successful system full-time are exceptional. I have no doubt that Andrew is the right man to build a system that will feed talent into the Club through a successful Academy for generations to come.

“Now identifying Andrew as the right person for the role obviously creates an immediate problem of a Knights head coaching vacancy in the middle of the championship season. There is no role more challenging and scrutinized than that of a Rugby League head coach, so the hire cannot be a reactive one but must be a long-term strategic appointment.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Applegarth as head coach of the York Knights. With the support and guidance of Andrew, Mark will take over the reins of the team this week to maximize the time available with staff and players during the ‘Challenge Cup Break’. Mark has shown that he can develop young players, motivate teams, is hungry for success, has shown grit and determination and importantly is a former York player with over 100 caps.

“There will be more information and interviews to come in the coming days, but the priority at the moment is to have a successful transition period for both Andrew and Mark to allow the players and staff to focus on job at hand – to take on the Dewsbury Rams. Sunday, June 16.

“I am delighted to be taking this step to ensure the long-term success of the club.”

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