Kieron Purtill

Kieron Purtillwas most recently the head coach of theWidnes Vikingsin theChampionshipbefore resigning in October 2019 after signing a 1 year contract extension only two months prior.He is the former head coach of both theCanada national rugby league teamand theEnglandKnights/Elite Development Squad.

Kieron Purtill

Personal information
Born	(1977-02-12)12 February 1977 Wigan, Greater Manchester
Playing information
Position	Centre,Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–02 Leigh Centurions 57 15 0 1 61
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2008–09 Huddersfield Giants 12 6 0 6 50 2018–19 Leigh Centurions 10 8 0 2 80 2019 Widnes Vikings 34 19 0 15 56 Total 56 33 0 23 59 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2010 Canada 2012 England Knights 3 3 0 0 100
Source: As of 30 April 2018

Background

Purtill was born inWigan,Greater Manchester,England.

Playing career

A former scrum half for theWigan Warriors,Huddersfield GiantsandLeigh Centurions,Purtill was forced to retire from playing due to injury and moved into coaching.

Coaching career

He started as a coach atSt. Helensbefore joiningHuddersfield Giantsas an assistant coach in 2005.At Huddersfield, he worked under head coachJon Sharp,who rated him as one of the best young coaches in the game. Following Sharp's departure from the club in 2008, Purtill had a brief spell as caretaker coach alongsidePaul Anderson.He then moved to St Helens where he worked underMichael Potterand thenRoyce Simmons.He also became head coach of the Canada Wolverines rugby league team and in 2011 the England Knights team. He also did a PG Dip in Elite Coaching Practice at theUniversity of Central Lancashire.He parted company with St Helens along with Royce Simmons on 18 March 2012 following a run of 5 games without a win. He has since been linked with a return to Huddersfield or toBradford Bulls,both in assistant roles.

External links

• Leigh Centurions profile