Last updated at 12:07, Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Whitehaven favourite David Seeds has re-joined the club as Dave Woods’ No 2.

David Seeds: Decision to appoint him was a ‘no-brainer’ says Haven coach Woods

Seeds enjoys huge respect at the Recre as one of the club’s modern greats and their all-time record try-scorer, and he went on to be a successful head coach in 2011.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” said Seeds. “Dave has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and some great contacts within the game.

“I had a year of coaching under my belt, and when Dave jumped on board there was a chance for me to learn from him.

“The timing is right for me to jump back in and I’m glad he asked me to come back down.

“There’s an opportunity with the St Helens link, and I’m looking forward to helping any way I can.”

Seeds led Haven in to the play-offs in their first year in Championship One, earning just one point less than champs Swinton in the regular season after starting the build-up to the campaign without a single player on the books following administration.

But Haven were hampered by a nine-point penalty imposed due to their off-field trauma and went out of the play-offs at Doncaster, Seeds telling his team on the pitch post-match that he was stepping down. It was a decision he had made earlier in the year.

“I think he needed a year out to recharge his batteries, and we are delighted he has agreed to be Dave’s assistant,” said chief executive Barry Richardson. “We see it as a real positive for the club.

“Dave Woods was keen for it to happen, and David was keen to get back involved. David feels he can develop further, and there’s the longer-term prospect of him taking over as head coach in the future.

“David is a local coach, and the philosophy of both coaches over time is to have a strong local presence in the team.”

Like Woods, Seeds believes the play-offs are a realistic target next term.

“I’ve watched Championship rugby on Premier Sports and it’s a strong, strong division,” Seeds said. “The play-offs are achievable, but like Dave says, we have to make our ground a fortress and pick up away wins.”

First published at 11:48, Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk