WARRINGTON Wolves have announced that Ryan O’Brien has been appointed as the club’s new Head of Youth.
O’Brien joined the club earlier this year as Head Coach of our Scholarship and Reserves sides. He has made a big impact with our Academy players also who have secured their play-offs spot winning nine of their 11 fixtures this season.
He will oversee the club’s whole youth department, under the leadership of new Director of Rugby Gary Chambers, with the overarching vision of developing the pathway for more homegrown talents progressing to first team level.
Ryan O’Brien said: “I’m very proud that people at the club have put their trust in me to do such an important job.
“The club has expressed its commitment to producing more homegrown players because we believe that is the way to sustain success.
“Right the way through the pathway there’s exceptional talent coming through. There’s players on the cusp of first team who have already had some experience – the likes of Lucas Green, Leon Hayes and Adam Holroyd. We’ve got a really good crop in the Academy, too, and some of those players have been recognised in the England, Lancashire and Yorkshire programmes lately. In our Scholarship programme there’s an abundance of potential there as well.
“There’s no better feeling than going on that journey with a player and seeing them fulfil their dream of becoming a first team player. Hopefully we can produce more of them over the coming years.”
Warrington Wolves Director of Rugby Gary Chambers added: “Put simply, there is no other person in the game equipped with the skills Ryan possesses to take our club’s youth system forward.
“We are very close to the time where our youth programme will form the backbone of the first team. I firmly believe that with Ryan’s guidance we will be able to load the first team squad from below by producing players that are equipped with the values and commitment to ensure the long term success for our club.”
