Head Coach Announcement
Neil Ryan has been appointed as Head Coach for the 2025-26 season.
It is a welcome return to Neil who started his playing career at Waterloo in the 1990s before heading
off to play for Sale Sharks then Orrell RUFC when the game turned professional. Neil finished his
playing career at West Park St Helens RUFC.
A talented fly half, he represented England Under 21s and he currently coaches the North of England
Under 20s. In addition to this, over the last few years he coached at Huddersfield RUFC and
progressed to becoming Director of Rugby.
Neil commented on how ‘excited he is to return to the club where it all began’ and said he is ‘looking
forward to working with a talented group of players and reacquainting himself with old friends’.
We are looking forward to Neil taking on the first team’s quest for promotion next season and he
will be ably assisted by Jack Weare who will be responsible for coaching the forwards
Jack has been a fantastic servant to Firwood Waterloo as a player for the last 17 seasons. Captaining
the club for three of those seasons and more recently, as part of the coaching team last season in a
player coach capacity.
We are really pleased he has committed to coaching next season; he has extensive experience as
player and is gaining a reputation as a very good and exciting coach. Jack has coached previously
with Cheshire Under 18's and is currently Lead Forwards Coach for Lancashire Under 20's, who have
reached the Jason Leonard U20s County Cup Final at Twickenham.
Jack commented on how keen and eager he is to take the next steps in his rugby career following his
retirement after the Lancashire Cup Final win. Jack said ‘I cannot wait to get stuck into pre-season
with the players, bringing a new dynamic way of thinking to this talented group of lads we have here
at the club excites me!’
Further announcements about the coaching team are to follow over the next few days.
