HE may never don his playing boots in the Super League, but Nigel Ashley-Jones is very much a part of Wilderspool life.

At only 24, the former Aussie youth team star has a wise old head. He commands a diverse role at Warrington which reads 'strength and conditioning coach/development officer' and lists a whole host of tasks that often keeps the affable Aussie at Wilderspool for up to 60 hours a week.

They include:

Strength and conditioning for all teams

Promoting the Wolf Pack

Visiting schools to encourage more youngsters through the turnstiles

Running a coaching clinic and fitness testing for under 16 future Wire stars

Introducing new diet programmes for players

But it's a labour of love by choice - and a choice that Nigel almost didn't make.

After completing a degree in sports science at the University of Western Australia, he was offered a similar position by Western Reds in Perth. Unfortunately for him, it was a non-playing position and meant hanging up his boots at the age of 20.

"I was still playing at the time and there were a couple of clubs interested in giving me a trial so it was a tough decision, but I went away with the boys and made up my mind."

It was at Perth that his great friendship with John Dorahy blossomed and when he came to England on holiday, it was perhaps fate that led him to Warrington and a reunion with his former boss that resulted in a six-month contract back in May. Now he's hoping to stick around much longer than that.

With fiance, Michelle, he has settled in comfortably into the Warrington community.

The couple plan to wed in December and Nigel has every intention of sticking around to see the fruits of his work - with the Academy, reserve and Super League sides on a playing level, and to help spread the primrose and blue word to the schools, terraces and playing fields of the north west.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.