Martin Gleeson the latest rugby league coach lined up for Gallagher Premiership switch

Wasps are set to follow Harlequins’ lead by similarly recruiting an established coach from England’s Super League to bolster their 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership chances. 

Looking for an edge, Quinn boss Paul Gustard snapped up former Britain scrum-half Sean Long last Monday from St Helens with immediate effect. 

“I have been looking at adding a coach to assist with some of the finer detail around running lines and creating numerical advantages for some time now,” he explained. 

“From an early age, rugby league players have core skill acquisition engrained in their developmental pathway. The skill fundamentals of catch-pass, tackling and running lines take precedence over what shape your team plays and they are the key and critical transferable skills which are required in union.”

Now, Premiership rivals Wasps are poised to do likewise as it has been reported they are on the cusp of securing the signature of Salford City Reds coach Martin Gleeson. 

A long-time friend of Harlequins-bound Long, The Rugby Paper is claiming the 39-year-old Gleeson is ready to change codes and give union a try under the command of Dai Young, the long-serving Wasps director of rugby who is looking to rev things up at Ricoh Arena following a disappointing season where they finished eighth in the league and failed to fire in Europe. 

Gleeson’s 15-year playing career in league saw him play for six different clubs and represent Britain and England on 26 occasions. He has been working any Salford since his retirement as a player and the club currently lies in eighth spot in the 12-team Super League heading into Sunday’s home clash with Wakefield Trinity.

On switching codes to Harlequins, Long said last week: “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone in rugby league for the time I have had there, but now I’m focused on Harlequins and am looking forward to getting started on the preparations for next season.” 

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