Legendary former Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield has played down suggestions he could one day follow Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell by coaching rugby union at international level. Sinfield is proving a resounding success in the 15-a-side code after quitting as director of rugby at Headingley in the summer of 2021 to become defence coach at Leicester Tigers.
Not only did ‘Sir Kev’ help the Tigers to their first Premiership title for nine years last season, they also achieved the unprecedented distinction of topping the table after every round of the campaign. The list of ex-league greats to have made their mark as a union coach is endless – Phil Larder, Edwards, Farrell, Mike Ford, Graham Steadman, Paul Deacon, Mike Forshaw and Martin Gleeson.
Even Brett Hodgson, after two fairly disastrous seasons in charge of Hull FC, was recently recruited by Eddie Jones as England’s new defence coach. Yet Sinfield, when asked about his own international ambitions, said: “I try and take it day by day by thinking about where I am now and how I can get better.
