WIGAN Warriors have appointed former Great Britain captain Mike Gregory as under 19s coach on a three year contract.

The former swinton Lions boss was the England Academy coach on their summer tour of Australia and New Zealand and was an assistant coach on the recent England Under 21s tour of South Africa.

Wigan Chairman Maurice Lindsay said:

"Mike will be a vital addition to our coaching set up and will be able to pass on a wealth of experience and knowledge to the young players at our club.

"Mike was the captain of the Great Britain squad that toured Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in 1990 when I was Tour Manager.

His leadership qualities were outstanding on that tour and he will bring lots of determination as well as experience to the club. He is a born winner and I know that Stuart Raper is delighted to have him on board."

Mike Gregory said:

"I am delighted to join my home town club in a coaching capacity. The standard of the young players at Wigan is very high and I am looking forward to working with them. I am also relishing the prospect of working alongside the head coach Stuart Raper who has great respect within the game and his assistant John Kear who I joined on the recent Under 21's tour of South Africa."