St.Helens R.F.C. is delighted to confirm Craig Richards as the Club's Head of Rugby (Academy & Pathways), tasked with leading and upgrading all youth and junior development across the Club.
A vastly experienced player development coach, the former Bradford, Oldham and Hunslet player, Richards first joined the Saints in 2014 and has been a key member of the Saints coaching infrastructure ever since.
Steeped in the Saints’ proud history of club-developed youth talent, Craig’s experience will energise the structures needed to nurture the next generation of Saints players. The ambition is to continue developing talents to join the likes of George Delaney, our 22-year-old prop who made his 100th career appearance last week, and 20-year-old Harry Robertson, the 2025 Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year, who continues to shine for the Saints.
These players, alongside young men such as George Whitby, Noah Stephens, Jake Davies, and Tom Humphreys, all of whom are still 21 years old or younger and are now St.Helens First Team players, will be the heart and soul of the Club over the next decade.
Craig will use his knowledge and experience to continue and improve the recruitment and development of junior talent into the Club, to progress into the Saints’ elite squads.
Speaking about his new role, Craig Richards told saintsrlfc.com: “I’m incredibly excited. It’s a big role with a lot of responsibility, a lot of heritage. I’m really looking forward to building on great traditions.
“Youth development is everything to me. Throughout my time at this club, what truly stands out is the collective pride displayed by everyone, all staff, coaches and supporters alike, at witnessing local players progress through and go on to have successful careers at St.Helens.
“It’s the backbone of everything we do and everything we can achieve on the field.”
Having worked closely with local clubs over the past 12 years, Richards is thrilled to now be responsible for driving the Club’s relationships across the community game.
“I’ve got a real appreciation of the hard work and effort done at community clubs, and over the years I’ve built strong partnerships and friendships with people across our region. Hopefully, that will help when it comes to recruitment and development and making sure we are bringing in the best young players to join our club.
“The additional knowledge I’ve gained from working with the women’s programme for the last eight years is hugely important too. We’ve had the most successful women’s team in the game, and sometimes we can take that for granted. We want that success to continue, and to do that, we need to make sure the same model we’re using to develop the best young male players is aligned across the female pathway as well.
“This role brings everything together under one roof. You’re either a Saints player or you’re not. The focus is on making sure all pathways have the right tools and the right support to become the best version of themselves and ultimately represent this club at the highest level.”
Chairman of St.Helens R.F.C. Eamonn McManus commented: “This is a critical new and senior appointment for the Club, and we are fortunate to have a person of Craig’s experience and professionalism to assume this role.
“Craig already has immense experience within our Club in the areas which he will now lead and has the hard-earned respect and confidence of everyone in it.
“He is fully aware of the Club’s strong and continuing commitment to academy and pathways, both male and female, and its essential coordination with our first teams, and he will be a great leader in this area.
“Craig will receive the full support and backing of the Club, and we wish him every success.
“In my 25 years as Chairman, the Board of Directors has always prioritised youth development as a fundamental facet of our business model as well as rugby philosophy. Its funding has always been and will be a key component of our investment strategy.
“Competition from other Super League clubs has noticeably increased and been added to in recent years with regard to youth development. This is truly great for our sport.
“St.Helens aims to continue to be a leader in player production for its First Teams, and for the national teams, at the premier levels that it has achieved throughout its history.”
