Powell handed assistant coach's role by England

Former Great Britain international Daryl Powell has been appointed as assistant to England head coach Steve McNamara.

Powell, 45, head coach of Championship club Featherstone Rovers, will work alongside McNamara and his other assistant, James Lowes, in the build-up to the end-of-season Four Nations series.

A former Sheffield Eagles, Keighley and Leeds stand-off, Powell won 33 caps for Great Britain and was head coach of Leeds from 2001-03.

"Daryl has a wealth of experience and I was delighted when he agreed to join us for what promises to be a very exciting period for international rugby league," said McNamara. "Daryl was a model professional as a player and he has carried that integrity across to his coaching career. I'm sure all the players in the England programme will benefit from his vast knowledge."

Powell returned to rugby league with Rovers two years ago after a spell in rugby union with Leeds Carnegie, and he took them to last September's Grand Final.

"This is a terrific opportunity for me and one I'm really looking forward to," he said. "Steve and the RFL performance department have put in place an outstanding programme with the ETS [elite training squad] and the Knights programmes, which I'm sure will give England the best possible chance to achieve our ambitions.

"Although Featherstone are a part-time club, I'm employed full-time at Rovers and will work hard to ensure my involvement with England doesn't interfere with what we've been doing at the club.

"My appointment as England assistant coach is a great honour, not just for me but for Featherstone Rovers and the Co-operative Championship and reflects the high standards in that competition."

Powell will join McNamara, the rest of the England backroom staff and the 32-strong elite training squad on Sunday, when they meet for a two-day camp at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.