Rotherham Titans appoint Gareth Lewis as new head coach

Former director of rugby at Huddersfield, Gareth Lewis, has been brought in to succeed Gary Pearce, who surprisingly left the club by mutual consent on Monday.

The new man will be supported by former Jersey Reds director of rugby Harvey Biljon in a consultancy role.

Both met the players and took their first training session last night.

Lewis spent ten years at Huddersfield before leaving in March this year. He started there as a player and rose up through the ranks to become director of rugby. He had latterly been working at Cleckheaton RUFC.

He becomes Titans’ sixth head coach in five years following Joe Barker, Anthony Posa, Steve Salvin, Adam Byron and Pearce.

Biljon won the Championship with the Reds last season before the club ceased trading in September and is well qualified for a position at the top end of the domestic game.

It is understood his arrival was aided by Rotherham chairman Nick Cragg, who lives in the Channel Islands.

On the new appointments, Titans’ director of rugby, Martin Jenkinson, said: “Gareth is only 43 and he kept Huddersfield up in National Two North for many years without the resources. He knows this league and we have always been impressed with him and what Huddersfield have done against us. The opportunity to bring him in alongside Harvey, with his experience and success in the Championship, was a good one.”

The new coaching team will have a decent settling in period, with the next league game at home to Otley scheduled for November 4.

Rotherham sit second in the National Two North after starting the campaign with seven straight wins.