THE man who steered Crosfields to promotion could play a part in bidding to upset England’s hopes in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup.

Tony Benson steered the Hood Lane outfit to the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three title in 2016 but then, after 11 years coaching in the UK, decided on a return home to his extended family in New Zealand.

Benson, who was replaced in the Soap position by Mark Brennan, is now coaching the Kiwis Fearns women’s rugby league team as they prepare for the tournament in Sydney next month.

Although England and New Zealand do not meet in the pool games, there is a chance of going head-to-head in either the semi finals or final, with the latter held in Brisbane on December 2.

And, bizarrely, that could see him sending a side into battle against women in the England side who prospered under his Crosfields successor Brennan when he was in charge of the Thatto Heath-St Helens Ladies team, including Warrington’s Jodie Cunningham, Emily Rudge, Danielle Bound and Jenny Welsby.

Whoever said it is a small world was right.