South Sydney Rabbitohs Assistant Coach David Furner will finish his tenure with the Club at the end of the 2018 season to take up the Head Coach role with the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.

Furner has been part of the Rabbitohs' coaching structure for the past two years and will head to England on a three-year contract.

Furner is a very experienced coach having previously been Head Coach of the Canberra Raiders for five seasons, Assistant Coach at the Raiders for three years, Assistant Coach at the North Queensland Cowboys for three seasons including their premiership year in 2015, and Assistant Coach of the Australian Kangaroos for six years under Tim Sheens. He was also Assistant Coach with Tonga over the past two seasons as they reached the World Cup semi-final in 2017.

Rabbitohs General Manager of Football, Shane Richardson, said: "I would like to thank David for his service to our club over the past two seasons. He has played a leading role in returning our team to the top four.

"He goes on to a great club in Leeds and I'm sure he will be a success as their Head Coach.

"He goes with our blessing and we wish David, his wife Kellie and his family the best of luck in the UK."

Furner, a former Leeds Rhinos player, said: "I have had two wonderful seasons at the Rabbitohs and this was not a decision that I took lightly.

"Returning to England is something my family and I are excited about come the end of the season.

"In the meantime, I am looking forward to finishing my time at South Sydney in the best possible fashion and wish Kevin Sinfield and the team at Leeds good luck for the remainder of their campaign."