St.Helens R.F.C. is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Watson as First Team Assistant Coach ahead of the 2027 Rugby League season.
The Saints welcome Watson from current World Club Champions Hull KR, where he worked as an assistant coach under Willie Peters.
Watson will work alongside Kevin Walters once our new Head Coach’s commitments with the Australian national team conclude at the end of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
A former Welsh international, Watson featured in almost 500 games over a 20-year playing career before moving into coaching, initially with Swinton Lions before joining Salford Red Devils, where he quickly established himself as one of the best young coaches in the Northern Hemisphere.
Watson led Salford to its first-ever Super League Grand Final in 2019 and followed that by taking them to the 2020 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. After taking charge at Huddersfield, he also guided the Giants to the 2022 Challenge Cup Final.
In 2019, the vastly experienced Watson served as assistant coach to Wayne Bennett with Great Britain.
Speaking about joining the Saints, Watson said: “I’m proud and excited to be joining a club with the history and heritage that St.Helens has. Everybody in rugby knows the size of the club and what it represents, not just here but globally.”
“Over the years, I’ve had some pretty intense battles with Saints, really tight games when I was at both Salford and Huddersfield. You always have the utmost respect for the players who play for St.Helens and the supporter base as well.
“One of the games that sticks out was a really tight one when we ended up losing 31-30 with Salford at St.Helens. The Saints crowd just seemed to understand when the team needed them and when they needed to come in at the right times to create that energy from the stands.
“I think that comes from the town being a rugby town, and from the Club having high standards and demands, with the ability to compete, and the want to win as well. There are some great amateur clubs around here too, and that’s what the Club has been built upon. That community within the local people and players coming through from those great clubs.”
With the opportunity to work alongside Kevin Walters, Watson is relishing the prospect of getting started.
“He’s been a serial winner and has probably achieved everything you can in the game, both as a player and a coach. When you think about him coaching Australia now, he’s at the top of the game.
“My job is about supporting Kevin, getting the right environment and working hard to get St.Helens back to winning silverware.”
