John Dixon Appointed as Welsh Coach

The Welsh Rugby League have appointed Celtic Crusaders boss John Dixon as their new head coach of the international team.

His first match in charge will be against England in Doncaster on Friday 10th October 2008.

Dixon has been the Head Coach of the Celtic Crusaders since their inception in 2005. He led the Crusaders to the National League Two championship in 2007, an act that enabled the club to apply for a Super League licence this year, and he has consistently stated his desire to help grow the sport in Wales.

Since the advent of the Crusaders in 2005, 30 Welsh-born and bred players have turned out for their first team with an additional 22 Welsh-born players aged 22 and under, turning out for Crusaders Colts, the new feeder side to the Crusaders first team that started this year.

Dixon, who will perform his Wales duties in addition to those in his existing role at the Crusaders, has appointed Iestyn Harris and Justin Morgan as his new assistants and part of his role will be to identify and develop future Welsh international coaches.

Cross-code international Harris has 19 international appearances in Rugby League and 25 appearances in Rugby Union and is well-known to the Welsh rugby public. Currently playing for Bradford Bulls, he is Wales