Last updated 11:49, Thursday, 18 September 2008

NIGEL BEATY, who quit as Penrith’s rugby development manager at the end of last season, has joined the coaching team at Wigton.

Challenge: Nigel Beaty

Beaty will be working alongside head coach Malcolm Brown, with a special remit to oversee young player development – particularly in the 18 to 21 age group.

Brown said: “It’s good to have Nigel on board, particularly for his expertise in developing and improving the skills of the younger players. I think he achieved a lot at Penrith on that side and we look to him making similar progress with us.”

Beaty took first team coaching when Brown was on holiday recently and he was also by his side on Saturday when Wigton won 15-5 at Oldham in their opening League game.

He said: “I think Malcolm and I work well together and complement each other so I’m looking forward to my new role at Wigton.

“They are ambitious and at one time were the top club in the county. They want to get back to that and I’ve been impressed with the quality of players they have. It’s going to be particularly rewarding working with the younger player because there seems to be a number of talented individuals.

“I was coaching at Penrith and also working as part time rugby development manager so it’s good not to have any administration to bother with at Wigton.” When he left Winters Park at the end of the 2007/08 season he said: “Hopefully the club will be able to announce a head coach for next season shortly, something that was not addressed last season so I had to include the role within the rugby development manager’s role.

“It was a sad day when I informed the club that I would not continue having been involved as a player or coach for almost 30 years.”

Stuart Connell was brought in as head coach soon after the end of the season.

Beaty, however, still has strong ties at the Winters Park club having overseen the development of so many of the club’s players and he was actually there on Sunday to watch the Under-17’s in action against Caldy.

The Brown/Beaty coaching axis has its first big test of the season on Saturday when Tyldesley – expected to be a force this year in North Lancs Cumbria –visit Lowmoor Road.