Smith leaves St Helens women for Wigan academy role

Matty Smith led St Helens women to Challenge Cup success at Wembley in 2023 and 2024

Matty Smith is to leave his role in charge of Women's Super League side St Helens to become the head coach of Wigan Warriors' academy.

Smith was head coach of Saints for two years during time which he led the team to successive Challenge Cup wins at Wembley.

He also guided them to the League Leaders' Shield this year, but they lost the Grand Final to York Valkyrie.

Smith, 37, is a former Wigan player and will take up his new four-year position in time for the 2025 season, while Derek Hardman and Craig Richards will jointly take charge of Saints' women's side following his departure.

Hardman, the current England women's assistant coach, returns to the club having led Saints to the Treble in 2021.

Former England women's head coach Richards also makes his return having previously been head of rugby for St Helens women.

Smith was named as the Women's Super League coach of the year for 2024 for his achievements with St Helens.

He also acted as an assistant coach to Paul Wellens for Saints' men's team.

After beginning his playing career with St Helens, Smith had a very successful four-year period with their big rivals as he won two Super League titles and the Challenge Cup.

And he is now joining Wigan again to try to bring through the next generation of players to complement their Quadruple-winning first team.

'An opportunity I couldn't turn down'

Derek Hardman and Craig Richards have worked together in the England Women's set-up

"I've had two fantastic years with St Helens women and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that experience and we've been a very successful group," Smith told Wigan's club website.

"This is an opportunity I couldn't turn down. I see this as a really big role and an important one that allows me to work with and develop young talented individuals that this club has always produced."

Meanwhile, Hardman's arrival at Saints comes after his previous spell between 2019 and 2022 resulted in two Challenge Cups, the League Leaders' Shield and the Women's Super League title.

Hardman was also involved in Saints' youth pathway, leading their reserves to back-to-back Grand Finals and this season's Reserves Championship title after beating Wigan in September.

Richards oversaw England Women's tour of Papua New Guinea, their participation in the World Nines competition and the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

"I made memories for life previously, but they are memories, and we are here to make even more moving forward because we want to be just as successful," Hardman said.

Richards added: "Women's rugby league is growing year on year, and next year will be the same - it will be more competitive, and we want to be at the forefront."