Tim Sheens to quit Salford and take over at Hull KR

Tim Sheens is to take over at Hull KR

Tim Sheens is to quit his job as Salford director of rugby at the end of the season to take over as Hull KR coach.

The ex-Wests Tigers and Australia boss, who guided the Kangaroos to World Cup glory in 2013, has agreed a three-year deal to take the reins at relegation-threatened Rovers from the end of the season.

Sheens, 65, is just 12 months into a three-year contract with the Red Devils but has been head-hunted to succeed Chris Chester and interim boss James Webster at the KC Lightstream Stadium.

Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash said: "I always said I would release Tim if he got the opportunity to become a head coach."

Sheens will see out the season with Salford and if they meet Hull KR in the £1m Match to determine the 12th place in Super League for 2017, Koukash says he will step aside from his role for the fixture.

Sheens, who relinquished the Kangaroos job last October following his appointment with the Red Devils, will return to hands-on coaching five years after leaving his role with Wests Tigers.

At Salford, he took on a back-seat role to allow Ian Watson to take charge of the team and Koukash says the former scrum-half is now ready to branch out on his own.

"Ian has progressed so well that there was no prospect of Tim becoming head coach and I am very confident he can now cope on his own," said Koukash, who dismissed speculation that he would be joining Sheens at Hull KR.

Tim Sheens won the World Cup with Australia

Sheens said: "The decision to leave Salford was not easy but my passion has always been to coach and so I thank Hull KR for such an opportunity.

"I'd also like to thank Marwan Koukash for giving me the chance to work in Super League.

"Given that the current competition is still in progress, for me it's business as usual with Ian and the team at Salford before I take up my new post at Hull KR."

Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell said: "Tim is a proven winner and hugely experienced at both club and international level. He is strong on discipline and culture, whilst his profile within the sport and connections back in Australia will boost recruitment."