Rugby League: Rochdale Hornets name Matt Calland as head coach

Rochdale Hornets name Matt Calland as Head Coach

Rochdale Hornets have appointed Matt Calland as their new head coach on a one-and-a-half-year deal.

Calland enjoyed three spells with the Hornets as a player scoring 60 tries in 120 appearances. He is a Championship Grand Final winning coach having steered Halifax to their 2010 golden point Grand Final win over Featherstone. He has since led local sides Rochdale Mayfield and Hopwood Hall College.

Calland said: “I am delighted to be back on board and take on a new challenge.

“There is a lot of hard work to be done and I can’t wait to get stuck into it. Rochdale Hornets was my first professional club and it is a job I have always wanted.

“Hopefully everyone involved with the club can get behind the team as we look to win some matches.”

Rochdale Hornets Chief Executive, Steve Kerr, said: “We are delighted to announce Matt Calland as the club’s new head coach. He brings with him a wealth of experience, a winning attitude and a no-nonsense approach.

 “He is a missing piece of the puzzle that we have been trying to put together for a number of years. He is a local coach, whose experience of the game in Rochdale is second to none. He has an unrivalled knowledge of player development through his work managing the Hopwood Hall rugby league academy and I am thoroughly excited to be working with him.

“This is an exciting appointment for the club, and I would encourage people in the borough to get behind Matt, his team and their club as we will fight tooth and nail to secure our Championship status.”

Chairman of Hornets Peter Rush said: “Matt Callan started his career at Hornets and went onto play in Super League.

“David Larder joined Hornets in the 90’s before he moved onto Halifax. 

“I have had the privilege of working with these two professionals before, and looking forward to working with them again.”

Rochdale are set to host Featherstone Rovers on Sunday in the Betfred Championship.