Rugby League legend Ellery Hanley will relaunch his coaching career against London Skolars. Hanley, voted Great Britain's greatest ever player recently, was appointed coach of NL2 side Doncaster today and his first competitive match in charge will be against the Skolars in the Northern Rail Cup on 1 February.
That Friday night match at the new Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster is now sure to be a huge game as Hanley returns to the spotlight nearly a decade after leading St Helens to Super League glory.
The Doncaster v Skolars game will also kick-start the professional rugby league 2008 season as the opening night. Super League champions Leeds Rhinos begin their defence the following day.
Skolars and Doncaster will meet at least four times in 2008: again in the Northern Rail Cup at Skolars' White Hart Lane Community Stadium on Sunday 17 February and then back at the Keepmoat Stadium for then opening game of the co-operative National League Two season on Good Friday, 21 March. The Dons return to Wood Green in the league on 9 August.
New Skolars coach Tony Benson met his players for the first time on Monday night and took training again on Wednesday at Finsbury Park when 25 first and second teamers were put through their paces by the Kiwi. Benson is commuting to London from his Manchester base as he has family settled in the north-west but the high speed train link and Skolars' location - with the office at the stadium in Wood Green and training at Finsbury Park - enables him to make the journey in rapid time.
Benson's first game in charge will be the Skolars v Harlequins Capital Challenge clash, sponsored by TETF Securities Ltd, Self Trade, Flow Traders and the London Stock Exchange, at the HAC's Artillery Garden in the City of London on Tuesday 22 January. Tickets, which are in severely limited number, are available from
London Skolars Rugby League and by calling Skolars on 020 88888 488, priced 10 pounds for all.