Ellis returns to ‘club he loves’
GARETH Ellis is ready to get cracking again at ‘the club he loves’ after re-joining Hull FC.
The Black and Whites legend has returned to the Black and Whites after working with Rugby League Cares for the last six months and takes a new role in the performance department.
Signing a three-year contract, Ellis will work alongside the first-team coaching staff for the rest of this season, before moving into a different and more specific role ahead of 2025.
The 42-year-old left Hull at the end of last season, with former head coach Tony Smith deciding to part ways.
Ellis now returns to Hull, where he played 127 times and skippered the side to two Challenge Cup wins in 2016 and 2017.
Ellis was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in January 2023 alongside Arthur Bunting, Jack Harrison, and Kirk Yeaman.
He first signed for the East Yorkshire outfit ahead of 2013 and has had spells as football manager, reserves head coach, and first-team assistant coach.
He is rejuvenated after a spell with RL Cares that took him to Australia this year and will work alongside interim head coach Simon Grix and Francis Cummins, who has stepped up to first-team matters alongside his academy and reserves roles.
Ellis said: “The last six months have allowed me to have some time away from the game, and now I come back with a completely fresh mind. Working with Rugby League Cares and travelling across the country to visit other clubs has really filled me with that hunger to want to get back into coaching at some point, but I probably didn’t appreciate an opportunity like this coming along so quickly.
“Hull FC still holds a very special place in my heart. I still love the club. Even over the last couple of months, I’ve been watching games and shouting at the TV, which shows there’s still a great element of care there.
“To get the opportunity to return to a role that I feel will play to my strengths as a coach was really one that I couldn’t turn down. I’m really looking forward to coming back and working with the players. There’s a great opportunity to nurture some outstanding young talent at Hull – some of those we’ve seen make their debuts in recent weeks.”
Ellis is backed to reconnect Hull FC with their ‘identity’ moving forward, with the club’s Director of Rugby, Richie Myler, consulting the playing group about bringing the former forward back into the firstteam environment.
Myler is also continuing his top priority of hiring a new head coach.
“As many of our loyal fans feel, Gaz is hurting about the current situation the club finds itself in,” Myler added. “He cares deeply about what Hull FC stands for and knows more than most what it means to pull on the black and white jersey.
“Having spoken to the playing group myself, it is clear that the respect that Gaz commands is of the highest regard, and it was immediately clear to me the value of him having a role within our group.
“We’re delighted to have him back on board, and I’m excited to have him help us reconnect with our identity as a club going forward.”