LEEDS Rhinos have announced the appointment of Richard Agar from NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons as the club's new head of player and coach development.

The former Hull, Wakefield and France boss - whose coaching career began with York City Knights in 2004 - has spent the last season at the Dragons as head of player pathways.

Agar’s responsibilities will include overseeing the Rhinos' Academy, Scholarship and Women's sides along with talent identification, coach education and community club partnerships.

Director of rugby Kevin Sinfield said: "Richard is an ideal candidate for this new position given his vast experience both in Super League and over in the NRL.

"Our player development programme is vital to our progress as a club and having a person of the calibre of Richard overseeing that is a major boost for the Rhinos."

Agar said: "I am delighted to be joining the Rhinos. I would like to thank everyone at St George Illawarra for the support they have given me and I am looking forward to this new challenge with Leeds."

Agar's post is a newly created senior management position with responsibility to manage department heads Simon Bell, Rob Burrow, Jonny Wainhouse, Mark Butterill and Barrie Eaton. Agar will also oversee parts of the Rhinos Foundation’s rugby league development plan for Leeds which relates to elite young player and coach development.

Bob Bowman, chief operating officer for Leeds Rhinos Foundation said, "We are delighted to have attracted someone like Richard who has vast experience in top line coaching, coach education and management. He will be a big asset for us."