Rob Powell
Encyclopedia
Rob Powell is an English professional rugby league
football coach. He is the current Head Coach for the Harlequins club of Europe's Super League
.
Powell played his first ever game of Rugby League in 1998 at Newcastle University where he studied History, however his playing experience lasted only a handful of games and his playing career ended at the age of 19.
He then completed an MSc in Sports Management at Northumbria University managed by Chris Hood, so Powell managed the Newcastle University side which won the North East Cup, qualified for the BUSA final and twice competed in the Challenge Cup during his three years in charge which saw him progress to the second round in 2001.
Powell's Masters Degree included a dissertation on Coaching and the six-week placement he was entitled to saw him introduced to London Broncos in 2002; the club that would ultimately prove to be his future employer in the guise of Harlequins Rugby League club.
In 2003, he became assistant to Darryl Pitt at South London Storm and a Full Time Rugby League Community Sports Coach introducing new players and clubs to the game. When Pitt departed, Powell took charge in December 2004 and shortly after the club announced their intention to move to the RLC Premier Division.
Powell won Coach of the Year in 2005 and in 2006 became winner of the RLC Premier Division. The final saw South London Storm beat East Lancashire Lions 30-0, the first time a losing finalist had been 'nilled' in RLC conference history albeit with 11 men for the last quarter.
In November 2006, Damian McGrath was appointed as Assistant Head Coach at Harlequins due to his considerable experience whilst it was also stated that Dave Evans was managing the under 21s. It was also noted that "joining Evans as Under 21's Assistant Coach is South London Storm's winning RL Conference coach, Rob Powell who this year also helped out with the Quins Under 16's team". By January 2007, the experienced McGrath had already left and Head Coach McDermott stated that "we want to appoint a younger man who can grow with the job, and the man in mind is very, very keen".
In 2007, Powell became assistant to Brian McDermott over a four year period which saw results for the first team decline from 7th in 2006 to 9th in both 2007 and 2008 then to 11th in 2009 and finally to 13th in 2010.
It was widely expected that Harlequins would select a new Head Coach from the large pool of external potential applicants and Powell went out to Lebanon to widen his experience as a Head Coach, but abruptly in November 2010, he was appointed Head Coach of Quins, replacing Brian McDermott
. His appointment made him the youngest coach in Super League XV
.
His first year in charge saw Jack Latus, Mark Calderwood, Nick Kouparitsas and Chris Bailey recruited whist he was constantly in and out of the loans market having signed the likes of Chris Riley, Karl Pryce, Joe Mellor, Kyle Briggs, Mike Burnett, Lee Mitchell and Luke Ambler during the season whilst allowing many home grown youngsters to play in the divisions below and mainly at London Skolars such as Lamont Bryan, Ben Bolger, David Williams, Rob Thomas and other players from the under 20s.
He got off to an amazing start with three pre-season wins followed by a win at the Magic weekend against Catalans, a home win v Crusaders, an away win at Leeds, a close home defeat to Huddersfield and an away win at St Helens. However the side was then thrashed 82-6 at Warrington on the 20th March, the club did not gain a point then for over a month until drawing 26-26 with Castleford and after three months without a win, Harlequins defeated Wakefield Wildcats on the 18th June for only their second home win of the season.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football coach. He is the current Head Coach for the Harlequins club of Europe's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
.
Powell played his first ever game of Rugby League in 1998 at Newcastle University where he studied History, however his playing experience lasted only a handful of games and his playing career ended at the age of 19.
He then completed an MSc in Sports Management at Northumbria University managed by Chris Hood, so Powell managed the Newcastle University side which won the North East Cup, qualified for the BUSA final and twice competed in the Challenge Cup during his three years in charge which saw him progress to the second round in 2001.
Powell's Masters Degree included a dissertation on Coaching and the six-week placement he was entitled to saw him introduced to London Broncos in 2002; the club that would ultimately prove to be his future employer in the guise of Harlequins Rugby League club.
In 2003, he became assistant to Darryl Pitt at South London Storm and a Full Time Rugby League Community Sports Coach introducing new players and clubs to the game. When Pitt departed, Powell took charge in December 2004 and shortly after the club announced their intention to move to the RLC Premier Division.
Powell won Coach of the Year in 2005 and in 2006 became winner of the RLC Premier Division. The final saw South London Storm beat East Lancashire Lions 30-0, the first time a losing finalist had been 'nilled' in RLC conference history albeit with 11 men for the last quarter.
In November 2006, Damian McGrath was appointed as Assistant Head Coach at Harlequins due to his considerable experience whilst it was also stated that Dave Evans was managing the under 21s. It was also noted that "joining Evans as Under 21's Assistant Coach is South London Storm's winning RL Conference coach, Rob Powell who this year also helped out with the Quins Under 16's team". By January 2007, the experienced McGrath had already left and Head Coach McDermott stated that "we want to appoint a younger man who can grow with the job, and the man in mind is very, very keen".
In 2007, Powell became assistant to Brian McDermott over a four year period which saw results for the first team decline from 7th in 2006 to 9th in both 2007 and 2008 then to 11th in 2009 and finally to 13th in 2010.
It was widely expected that Harlequins would select a new Head Coach from the large pool of external potential applicants and Powell went out to Lebanon to widen his experience as a Head Coach, but abruptly in November 2010, he was appointed Head Coach of Quins, replacing Brian McDermott
Brian McDermott
Brian G. McDermott is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He started as Head Coach of Harlequins RL of Super League on 8 July 2006 and departs on 4 September 2010.-Biography:...
. His appointment made him the youngest coach in Super League XV
Super League XV
The 2010 Super League season was the fifteenth season of rugby league football since the Super League format was introduced in 1996. Fourteen teams competed for the League Leader's Shield over 27 rounds . All clubs also participated in the 2010 Challenge Cup tournament...
.
His first year in charge saw Jack Latus, Mark Calderwood, Nick Kouparitsas and Chris Bailey recruited whist he was constantly in and out of the loans market having signed the likes of Chris Riley, Karl Pryce, Joe Mellor, Kyle Briggs, Mike Burnett, Lee Mitchell and Luke Ambler during the season whilst allowing many home grown youngsters to play in the divisions below and mainly at London Skolars such as Lamont Bryan, Ben Bolger, David Williams, Rob Thomas and other players from the under 20s.
He got off to an amazing start with three pre-season wins followed by a win at the Magic weekend against Catalans, a home win v Crusaders, an away win at Leeds, a close home defeat to Huddersfield and an away win at St Helens. However the side was then thrashed 82-6 at Warrington on the 20th March, the club did not gain a point then for over a month until drawing 26-26 with Castleford and after three months without a win, Harlequins defeated Wakefield Wildcats on the 18th June for only their second home win of the season.