New Woolston Rovers NCL team head coach is Billy Sheen

The move to promote Sheen from assistant coach comes as part of a reshuffle in a department that will still be headed up by head of rugby Mal Holt.

Rovers hope the changes will help to provide a strong finish to a season in which they are currently sixth on the Division Two ladder with seven wins and a draw from their 15 matches.

“We had a meeting at the beginning of the season where I explained to Billy what my ideas were and thankfully he was 100 per cent on board with it," said Holt.

"With myself as head of rugby and being the link between the players and the club, and taking on the matchday responsibilities, it means that Billy can concentrate on the technical side of things, delivering the sessions and prepping the lads for matchday.

"Bringing Billy in has been a great success; he has played at a good level, has a great understanding of the game and is very well respected by the playing group as well as opposition players and coaches.

Billy Sheen. Picture: Nikki Whalley

"He has taken us to a better level and continues to improve us each week; being the head coach also allows him to develop himself further.

"We also have Liam Lawton who works well alongside Billy and heads up the NWML side.

"He also assists in the delivery of the sessions and he is nurturing a good youthful side which will only benefit the club over the coming years.

"The coaching group of Billy, Liam, myself and Tyrone McCarthy (coaching consultant) works very well and we hope to finish the season strongly and then look to improve and strengthen for next season.”

Sheen added: “I have wanted to coach for a while now and as soon as the opportunity of assistant coach came up I jumped at the chance but then after a chat with Mal things moved pretty quickly really for me to become the head coach and I was pleased to take that opportunity and thankful to Mal and the club committee for having that faith in me.

"I just want to make changes on the field that will better the team where I can. Not everything is always perfect and every day is a learning curve for me but I love every minute of it.

"The lads have been great and seem to have bought in to what I have tried to implement.”