Hunslet are pleased to announce the appointment of Kyle Trout as the new Head Coach, effective immediately. The decision follows a comprehensive internal review during a challenging season and reflects the Club’s commitment to stability, accountability, and long-term growth.
Kyle has served as Assistant Coach since 2024, being a key part of the promotion team’s backroom staff, and steps into the role with a deep understanding of the club’s culture, values, and expectations. Whilst this season has not met expected performance targets, Kyle has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, tactical acumen, and has earned the respect of both players and staff. The Board believes this continuity will be key to rebuilding momentum and driving improvement.
“After a thorough evaluation, it became clear that Kyle brings the vision, hunger, and inside knowledge to lead us forward.” said Darren Higgins, Director of Rugby. “We are not ignoring the difficulties of this season, instead we are facing them head-on — and we believe Kyle is the right person to turn things around from the inside out. His appointment will allow us to kick-start our 2026 recruitment, and we will keep you updated as that develops.”
During his time as Assistant Coach, Kyle played a pivotal role in player development, tactical planning, and fostering a high-performance environment. He will now have the opportunity to shape the team fully and implement a clear vision going forward. Speaking about the appointment, Kyle said, “The club means a lot to me, and I’m both privileged and honored to take on this responsibility. We know this season hasn’t been good enough, and we’re committed to making our supporters proud again. That starts with hard work, unity, and belief in the project ahead. The players are under no illusions as to my expectations.”
Michael Knowles will take over the main Assistant Coach role.
Supporters will get the chance to meet Kyle and Darren at a Q&A forum scheduled for Thursday 31st July in the Phoenix Bar, starting at 7.30pm.
