Rugby League Norge has announced the appointment of a new head coach for their national team, with Australian-born Craig West (See photo) taking on the role having been to Oslo to seal the deal.
West’s pedigree includes playing stints with Sydney club Newtown Jets and Pia Donkeys in France before making the switch to coaching with Villefranche in the Midi-Pyrenees region.
Upon arrival, West said, “The staff and players of RLN have made me feel very welcome and part of the rugby league family there straight away.”
His primary objective is to guide ‘Vikingene’ to a European Shield title against more experienced nations Malta and Germany.
RLN Executive Officer Warren Heilig commented, “Rugby League is a rapidly growing sport in Norway and we decided that to move forward we needed a specialist coach with good knowledge of the game but also experience of coaching in new frontiers. Craig was a perfect fit for us.”
Norway’s prospective international players will begin training for national team places on May 6th. In the RLEF EUROPEAN SHIELD they face Malta away, departing on July 1st for that clash and then Germany in Lillestrøm on July 9th.