Hornets Coaching team assembled

Dave Ramsbottom, Ryan Gibney, Jason Viller, Paul Berry

Rochdale Hornets new head coach Alan Kilshaw has completed the appointments of his back room staff for 2016, ahead of training starting first week of November.

Former paratrooper Ryan Gibney has been appointed as the club's strength and conditioning coach.

Gibney became a personal trainer upon leaving the forces and now holds a degree in Strength and Conditioning.

He has an impressive CV, boasting numerous years at Warrington Wolves, where he worked with Kilshaw, as well as consultancy posts with various international rugby union teams including Scotland, Denmark, Sri Lanka and Georgia full national and sevens teams.

Dave Ramsbottom first joined the clubs coaching staff under John Stankevitch and has been an ever present ever since.

Ramsbottom is level two qualified and is well respected across the local community game after playing and coaching at various clubs across the borough down the years, starting Spotland Rangers.

Paul Berry will also take up an assistant coach role.

Berry has a very good record coaching various age groups at the Warrington Academy.

Berry is level two qualified.

Former Hornets player Jason Viller also joins the club after a nine year stint in the coaching department with Salford Red Devils.

Viller is Level three qualified and played for Hornets for five years in two spells, 1988-1993 and 1999-2001.

Kilshaw commented: “When I met Jason what impressed me was his knowledge of this competition. He has gained a huge amount of knowledge and experience whilst working at Salford Reds including some first grade whilst Phil Veivers was at the club.

"Paul is an ambitious young coach who wants to progress from working in youth and he will bring a lot of knowledge and latest methods from his time at Warrington.

"Ramsbottom is well known to all and his enthusiasm and love of the club is infectious.

"We are trying to be as professional as we can in a semi-professional environment, making these coaching appointments furthers evidences our ambition for the season ahead.
It is vital we get the right characters at this club and that's on and off the field."

Dr Ian Samson will continue as club doctor and Brian Carrol as physiotherapist.

The club has also confirmed that training will take place in Rochdale in part throughout 2016, following a tie in with Kingsway Park High School and Link4Life, as well as funds being made available to bring the playing surface at Mossway up to standard from April.

“Coming back to Rochdale in full is what we are aiming for,” commented Hornets CEO Ryan Bradley.

“We have visited numerous sites over the last couple of weeks around the borough and Alan was really impressed with Kingsway and Mossway.

“We have spoken to partners and funders and believe that in two years we can be back in the Borough in full at a facility that meets our requirement, but it was essential we come back to the Borough at least in part this year and we have worked hard to make that happen.

“We will again look to use a Super League facility as well, as it is essential that we maintain the highest possible standards to help us progress on the field.”

Supporters are welcome at all sessions, with the first weekly Rochdale session at Kingsway on Thursday 5 November.