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Coach Pratt keeps developing

26/ 3/2004

ROCHDALE rugby league coach Gareth Pratt is the 2003 Greater Manchester coach of the year.

Pratt coaches the Rochdale representative squad and Lancashire under 18s. In December he was appointed head coach for the England under 16s schools team which will tour France in April.

Pratt, who has worked his way up the coaching ladder with the help of the Rochdale Rugby League Service Area, paid tribute to the work of that organisation. He said: "The award is good for rugby league, but it's also good for sports development in Rochdale.

"The service area has been excellent and has allowed me to progress from coaching at a local level through to regional and national level."

Pratt flies out to France with the England squad on 10 April for two Test matches and a game against a regional team.

The highlight of his preparations was a visit from Great Britain seniorcoach David Waite. "I was taking my first training session and my assistant couldn't make it," said Pratt.

"So David Waite, who had come along, volunteered to help under my direction.

"It was nerve-racking at first, but a valuable experience and I learned a lot."

Falinge High school pupil Mike Ratu is in the England under 16s squad and Pratt believes the young star has also benefited from the service area programme. He added: "I suppose Mike and I are both proof the service area programme works. The England lads have been superb in training and I can't wait for the tour to get under way."

For more information on the rugby service area teams contact Carl Richards - 0161 643 5394.