Scott Grix takes on assistant coach’s role at Halifax Panthers

Full-back Scott Grix has joined Rikki Sheriffe as joint assistant coach at the Panthers and will combine both playing and coaching roles.

Grix has previously coached at Huddersfield Giants and under his guidance took their Academy side to sixth in the table and played a major role in the development of the club’s younger outside backs as well as coaching the first team in the same role.

Panthers’ head coach Simon Grix said: “Scott will be playerassistant this year. His experience is invaluable to us and, like Rikki, will be a good devil’s advocate to ensure I am on my toes and prepared.

“His first priority is to be game ready but throughout preseason he will have a bigger part to play on the coaching side as we aim to provide a balanced generic and position specific skills program.”

Meanwhile, the RFL has announced a new three-year enhanced agreement with the BBC to extend their coverage of the Challenge Cup until 2024.

The new deal for the men’s competition will see the BBC continuing to cover two matches from the quarter-finals and the round of 16, as well as both semi-finals and the final.

It will commence from 2022 – when rugby league celebrates 70 years since the first Challenge Cup Final at Wembley was televised nationally by the BBC, Workington Town’s victory over Featherstone Rovers in 1952.

In addition, the Women’s Challenge Cup Final will also air live on the BBC for the next four seasons along with the Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final, which will be shown live on the BBC’s digital platforms.

All three 2021 Rugby League World Cups, the men’s, women’s and wheelchair, that will take place in England next autumn will also be covered live on the BBC with 61 matches in total airing across platforms.