England Wheelchair Rugby League have confirmed the staff team who will support the squad at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia this October.
The group will be led by Head Coach Tom Coyd MBE, alongside England Wheelchair General Manager Martin Coyd OBE and Team Manager John McMullen, with Greg Brown appointed Assistant Coach after progressing through the England Wheelchair coaching pathway.
Brown, who is Head Coach of Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair, has played a central role in the club’s development since its inception in 2021, overseeing rapid growth in participation and the team’s progression from the Championship to Super League.
His wider coaching background includes experience in disability sport through sitting volleyball, first in the Netherlands and later as Great Britain Assistant Coach. In 2024, he travelled to Christchurch, New Zealand, for an immersive coaching programme with Crusaders Super Rugby coaching staff, covering elite team culture, session design and performance coaching methodology.
Brown has also recently worked with Leicester Tigers as part of their community team, supporting age-grade coaching and player development programmes.
Dr Sean Murray-Smith will join the staff as Strength and Conditioning Coach when the squad arrives in Australia. Based in Wollongong, Murray-Smith brings more than two decades of high-level experience in strength and conditioning, athlete development and sport science.
Since 2004, he has worked with athletes across all levels, from grassroots participants to Olympic and international representatives, through private coaching and consulting roles with the Illawarra Academy of Sport, NSW Institute of Sport, and national athletes and teams. His work has spanned team and individual sports including basketball, hockey, netball, swimming, athletics and aerial skiing.
Kyle Amor will join the media team for the tournament, working alongside Hannah Pemberton. A former men's Super League player, winning the Super League Grand Final with St Helens four times, Amor has become one of the leading broadcast voices around Wheelchair Rugby League and brings significant insight into the sport.
The team also acknowledge the contribution of Jimmy McDaniel, who will hand over Strength and Conditioning responsibilities to Murray-Smith for the World Cup as he takes up his new role as Head of Performance at Hull FC.
Tom Hosty-Cundell will continue as Analyst, Mark Oxley as Physiotherapist and Francis Stephenson as Wellbeing Manager, completing the staff group for the tournament.
On the appointments, Tom Coyd MBE, said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Greg, Sean and Kyle into the England Wheelchair set-up for the World Cup.
“Greg Brown is a great example of what our coaching pathway can produce. He has been central to the growth of Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair and brings a wealth of experience from disability sport, alongside a strong academic and performance background. He knows our game, understands our players and, importantly, shares the values we appreciate within this group.
“Sean Murray-Smith brings an outstanding level of experience in strength and conditioning and sport science. Being based in Wollongong also gives us the opportunity to add someone with a deep understanding of the local environment to our performance team when we arrive in Australia. Sean’s approach is well-aligned, and he has slotted in seamlessly to our preparations.
“We’re also really excited to have Kyle Amor joining our media team for the World Cup. He has developed a real understanding of our game through his work in commentary, and he brings a different perspective from his experience at the highest level of the men’s game. He’ll be a great partner for Hannah Pemberton in the media team, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can create together around the World Cup.”
“We also want to recognise the huge contribution Jimmy McDaniel has made to our programme. Jimmy has played an important role in developing our strength and conditioning provision and has been a valued member of our staff. He’ll hand over those responsibilities to Sean for the World Cup as he takes up an exciting new role with Steve McNamara as Head of Performance at Hull FC. We’re delighted to see him take that next step and he leaves us with our very best wishes.”
