Key Points
- National coach Brian McDermott has officially confirmed Jason Davidson as the operations manager for the upcoming England rugby league campaign.
- The tournament, set to begin next month, will take place across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
- Jason Davidson brings extensive elite experience, having spent 17 seasons at Leeds Rhinos working as both a head conditioner and team manager.
- During his time at Headingley, Davidson contributed to seven Grand Final victories—four under Brian McDermott—and three Challenge Cup triumphs before moving to Hull FC.
- Former St Helens coach and current North Queensland Cowboys assistant Paul Wellens, alongside ex-Wigan Warriors star Sean O’Loughlin, have been appointed as Brian McDermott’s assistant coaches.
- Carl Jennings joins the set-up as the high-performance expert, while Matty Daniels leads the strength and conditioning operation.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) September 15, 2026 —National coach Brian McDermott has confirmed that long-serving rugby league stalwart Jason Davidson has been drafted into the England national setup as operations manager. The appointment comes ahead of the upcoming international tournament in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, which is scheduled to kick off next month.
As reported by rugby league journalists covering the national team camp, Jason Davidson brings a wealth of elite background to the role after spending 17 seasons at Leeds Rhinos across dual spells as a head conditioner and team manager. Having initially joined the Headingley club back in 2005, Davidson proved to be an immensely influential figure behind the scenes.
His tenure yielded seven Grand Final victories—four of which came under the direct coaching of Brian McDermott—alongside three Challenge Cup triumphs before he transitioned to Hull FC at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, eventually departing Hull a year later.
Who Makes Up The Rest Of Brian McDermott’s Coaching Staff?
Alongside the inclusion of Jason Davidson, Brian McDermott has finalised a formidable backroom team combining vast Super League pedigree and international experience.
Former St Helens coach and current North Queensland Cowboys assistant Paul Wellens joins alongside ex-Wigan Warriors star Sean O’Loughlin to serve as McDermott’s assistant coaches. While Wellens operates out of Australia, O’Loughlin maintains a comparable coaching role with Wigan.
Furthermore, the high-performance operations will be driven by Carl Jennings, while Matty Daniels takes charge of England’s strength and conditioning programme.
Addressing the logistical complexity of assembling a cohesive unit on short notice, Brian McDermott explained to media representatives that establishing absolute unity among the backroom staff was his primary priority.
As reported by journalists from specialist rugby league publications, Brian McDermott stated that:
“The staff was a big one for me because I’m not going to do everything. I can’t do everything. I don’t want to do everything. But to keep the same message and to have the same philosophy about how you lead and how you want to play, you’ve got to spend time with your staff.”
McDermott further emphasized the necessity for seamless communication within the camp, noting:
“Jason Davidson is our operations manager. Carl Jennings is our high-performance guy. Matty Daniels is the S&C guy who came on board after Ade Gardner pulled out. When one of the squad members are talking to any one of the members of the staff, there can’t be any contradiction. There’s got to be a consistent message and that’s been the hard work for me.”
Discussing his close collaboration with his assistants, McDermott detailed regular remote strategy sessions. As outlined in reports from national sports correspondents, McDermott shared:
“We’ve had a lot of contact. Paul Wellens and I, Sean O’Loughlin for sure. We jump on a teams call and we’ve done a ton, just us three together, talking about squads, talking about tactics, defensive strategies, the state of the game, everything. Everything we’ve covered off.”
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Background of the Particular Development
The integration of Jason Davidson and the wider appointment of Brian McDermott’s backroom staff arrive at a critical juncture for English international rugby league. For decades, the national side has sought to bridge the competitive and psychological gap separating Super League standards from the formidable structure of the Australian NRL.
By recruiting personnel who have operated at the absolute pinnacle of club rugby league—such as Davidson’s trophy-laden era at Leeds Rhinos and the extensive elite playing and coaching experience of Paul Wellens and Sean O’Loughlin—the Rugby Football League aims to professionalise tournament preparation. This strategy ensures that logistics, player welfare, physical conditioning, and tactical alignment are managed by trusted veterans who share a unified philosophy.
Prediction
This strategic restructuring of the backroom staff can significantly impact the England national team players by instilling total operational clarity and eliminating mixed messaging during high-pressure tournament fixtures down under.
With meticulous logistical oversight managed by an experienced operator like Jason Davidson, alongside elite tactical guidance from proven winners like McDermott, Wellens, and O’Loughlin, the squad is expected to experience a more synchronised camp environment.
For the players, entering a global competition with a unified physical and mental framework reduces external distractions, allowing them to focus entirely on executing complex game plans against elite southern hemisphere opposition.
