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Mather appointed to RFL role

Image: Mather: Back in 1999

London Irish's Barrie-Jon Mather is to return to rugby league as the RFL's new head of player development.

Exiles coach returning to rugby league

London Irish assistant coach Barrie-Jon Mather is to return to rugby league as the Rugby Football League's (RFL) new head of player development. The 36-year-old former Wigan and Great Britain centre became the first rugby league international to be capped by England at rugby union in 1999 and has spent the last three years on the Exiles coaching staff. His will take up the position on July 1 in what is part of a major overhaul of the governing body's performance and coaching department in the wake of England's disastrous displays at the last World Cup, and he is keen to make a difference. "My ultimate aim in this role will be to produce more talented players by increasing the number of players progressing to the elite level of the game," said Mather. "I'm really looking forward to working with the RFL and playing a part in developing more young talent with the objective of winning the World Cup in 2013. "The role will be similar to the one I had at London Irish when I was involved in the academy set-up." The RFL has also announced the appointment of Clive Brewer, currently in charge of athlete development programmes for sportscotland, as head of human performance.