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Paul Berry has been named as the new Wales national team’s head coach, Wales Rugby League has announced.
The 41-year-old, who will lead the senior men’s side in their bid to reach the 2030 world cup, is the most successful youth coach in Welsh history, leading the Under-16s national team to home and away wins over England in 2022, followed by three successive unbeaten Four Nations titles.
Berry will be assisted by former Wales international Damian Gibson, as well as Liam Bostock, who was his assistant in the Wales U16 side for a number of years.
“I’m excited for the challenge,” said Berry, who is taking over from John Kear. “I’m also really grateful for chairman James Davies, CEO Richard Hibbard, and the board for showing trust in me to lead the team moving forward.
“Being involved over the last six years, I’ve seen first-hand the talent already within the pathway and I’m hoping these young players will come through over the next few years to add to the experienced group that we already have.
“That will provide a really balanced squad as we move forward to being World Cup-ready by 2030.”
Berry spoke of the “long-term goal” to reach the 2030 world cup, but said his short-term aim was to see the team “playing regular fixtures and giving some of the younger players an opportunity to pull on our famous red jersey”.
He added: “There’s plenty of progress happening on and off the field at the moment, and I think we’re entering a really exciting period for rugby league in Wales. I’m really pleased to be able to continue to play a part of it moving forward.”
Berry first joined Wales Rugby League in 2019 as assistant to Lee Crooks as part of the Wales U16 programme. In 2021, he was promoted to head coach of the Wales U17 side, in the one year that it ran post-Covid, before taking over the Wales U16 side.
Promoted to head of youth in 2023, in addition to his Wales U16 role, he has since overseen more than 40 Welsh players earning scholarships and academy contracts with various Super League clubs.
Berry has spent more than a decade working for Warrington Wolves as part of their junior development and scholarship programmes and will remain in his current position at Warrington, alongside his new Wales role.
He has also spent time on the player pathway staff at Salford Red Devils and was also one of the coaches who famously led Rochdale Hornets to a League 1 promotion final win in Toulouse.
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