Waite to return to Australia

Former Great Britain head coach David Waite is to end his consultancies with both the RFL and Catalans Dragons at the end of September and return home to Australia.

The former Australia winger joined the RFL as technical director in 2000, following a successful career in the NRL with leading clubs Newcastle Knights and St George-Illawarra.

He became Britain?s head coach and performance director in 2001 and coached the national side in Test series against New Zealand and Australia in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The Lions lifted the Baskerville Shield in the 2002 series against the Kiwis.

Waite stepped down from the head coach?s role at the end of 2003, but as performance director retained an involvement with the England Academy side, who recorded historic consecutive series victories over their traditional rivals, the Australian Schoolboys.

Since the beginning of 2005, Waite has been working both in France and the UK, carrying out a dual consultancy role to oversee the preparation for Catalans? inaugural season in engage Super League from a performance perspective.

Waite said: ?I have enjoyed my time within British and French rugby league immensely and I will take so many great memories back to Australia with me.

"When I began working in the UK, I shared the aspiration held by many to instill greater value into international football and promote British playing and coaching talent so that it was in a position to prosper.

"I believe that British Rugby League is in great health and I believe we are now well positioned to succeed at the very highest level."

He added: "Working with the Catalans Dragons has also been challenging and exciting and French rugby league too has demonstrated it can contribute to engage Super League. The Dragons? presence can only enhance the prospects of the French international side.

"I would like to thank everybody I have worked with during the past six seasons for their support and friendship and I would also like to wish them all the best for what I know will be a successful future."

RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis said: "On behalf of everybody at the RFL, I would like to thank David Waite for the outstanding work he has done for rugby league in the UK during the past six years.

?David has played a key role in many of the positive developments we have seen in the sport and has significantly helped both the RFL and the RLEF (Rugby League European Federation)to build the profile and prestige of international rugby league.

?He has also been a great champion of British playing and coaching talent and has contributed to the current vibrancy of the British game in this area.?

Lewis added: ?David?s work in France as a consultant to the Catalans Dragons has also been a tremendous success and he has added valuable expertise to the club in their inaugural season.

?The Dragons have shown they are a competitive force and this undoubtedly is a consequence of the knowledge and input from David.

?He will remain a great friend to both British and French rugby league and we wish him and his family all the best for the future.?

Waite will return home to Australia where he initially plans to take a holiday.

Source: superleague.co.uk