Former Hull FC head coach Lee Radford is back winning silverware. The now 45-year-old tasted Premiership success with rugby union side Northampton Saints at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon, winning the code’s grand final 25-21 against Bath.
Radford joined the coaching staff at the Saints last summer, with his official role being defensive coach. He left Castleford Tigers last year and has wasted no time making an impact in the Midlands, with the club securing their first title in ten years.
The Saints, meanwhile, are Radford’s fourth different coaching role since leaving Hull in 2020. He had a brief spell with Dallas Jackals in the USA before joining Castleford ahead of the 2022 season.
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He was also involved in Samoa’s coaching team for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, helping the Pacific Island nation reach the final, where they were beaten by Australia at Old Trafford. His impact there was so great that he was recommended to NRL clubs, with Radford instead joining the Saints last year.
Of course, the Hull-born coach achieved legendary status with the Black and Whites in 2016 and 2017, winning back-to-back Challenge Cup titles at Wembley. He also guided Hull to two third place finishes in Super League, with the side edged out in both league semi-finals.
Before that, he had three spells as a player at Hull, first debuting in 1996. He moved to Bradford Bulls in 1999, winning every honour in the British game, before returning to his hometown club in 2006. He hung up the boots at the end of the 2011 season but came out of retirement in 2012.
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