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Rugby League

McClennan named as Smith's successor

11/07/2007

Brian McClennan has been named as Tony Smith's successor at Leeds Rhinos after rejecting a lucrative pay rise from New Zealand Rugby League to stay with the Kiwis.

The 45-year-old coach will join up with his new Super League employers in December in order to prepare for the 2008 season.

He has signed a two-year contract at Headingley Carnegie and described the appointment as "a tremendous honour".

"Leeds is a founder club of rugby league with a wonderful heritage," he said.

"I would like to acknowledge Tony Smith. He has done a fantastic job in setting up a world-class programme, which has provided the foundation for the Rhinos success. I wish him all the very best with the Great Britain team.

"I am really looking forward to working with such a talented group of players and also forming strong relationships with the coaching staff."

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) had offered McClennan a new deal in a last-ditch attempt to stave off interest from the Rhinos.

But the lure of northern hemisphere coaching experience proved too strong and the highly-rated coach will now begin preparations for the move later this year.

Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "We are delighted to have secured one of the world's most respected coaches and I am sure Brian's style and experience will be well suited to Leeds Rhinos and Super League in 2008.

"It has been an exhaustive search and it was so important to find the right man.

"I believe coaching standards at the top level are better than ever before and there were some outstanding candidates available.

The Leeds Rhinos coaching job is accepted as a very demanding one and in Brian McClennan we have someone who fits the bill perfectly."

The Headingley outfit are currently under the leadership of Tony Smith, but will lose the Australian's services when he takes up the role of Great Britain head coach on a full-time basis from October.

McClennan attracted the Rhinos' interest after strong showings from his New Zealand side in each of the last two Tri-nations tournaments.

On both occasions the Lions were beaten to a final clash with Australia by McClennan's spirited team.

McClennan would have been unable to replicate Smith's simultaneous jobs at national and international level as his New Zealand contract demands that he must stay in the country.

NZRL officials therefore gave McClennan until the end of the month to decide his future.

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