Ex-captain Newton named permanent Whitehaven coach
James Newton's playing career ended after he suffered a fractured neck in 2024
- Published
Former Whitehaven captain James Newton has been named as the Championship club's new permanent head coach.
Newton, who played 238 games for the club before being forced to retire because of a serious neck injury, had been in interim charge of the club after the departure of Anthony Murray.
But on the back of three straight wins, including an 80-12 victory over North Wales Crusaders that moved Whitehaven up to 12th, Newton has been given a two-year contract until the end of the 2028 season.
"I'm really proud and thankful for the opportunity, for the club to stick behind me and the rest of my coaching team," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.
"We've been through a bit of an uncertain period, but I feel like I'm starting to get a bit of a connection with the lads and that's showing on the field."
