Harlequins' Brian McDermott signals intent for England coaching job

The Harlequins head coach Brian McDermott said it was his 'goal in life' to coach England to the 2013 World Cup. Photograph: Tony Marshall/Empics Sport The Harlequins coach, Brian McDermott, has become the first man to express interest in leading England to the 2013 World Cup. "I would love the England job," McDermott told the BBC. "Why would I not want to coach my country? That is your goal in life." The former Bradford and Great Britain prop has bucked the recent trend after two of the initial favourites for the position left vacant by Tony Smith's resignation following the Gillette Four Nations series, Mike Ford and John Kear, last week stressed that they are happy in their current roles, and Smith's former assistant Steve McNamara sat on the fence. The Rugby Football League revealed today that it has received "around half a dozen" expressions of interest. "The timeline is not as important as getting the right person or indeed combination of people," said Nigel Wood, the RFL's chief executive. At the RFL's end-of-season media briefing, Wood and the chairman, Richard Lewis, refused to answer questions about the Crusaders' expected move from South Wales to Wrexham for their second Super League season because of "commercial sensitivity". But Lewis dismissed a suggestion that the other Super League clubs would have to approve such a divisive move. "It's a matter for the RFL unless there is a breach of their licence, and where they play wouldn't be a breach of the licence," he said. However, Wood confirmed that the RFL may finally be in a position to act on the Welsh club's breach of visa regulations which led to six of their Australian players being served with deportation papers last August. "We have been waiting for confirmation from the [UK] Borders Agency that they had concluded their enquiries," he said. "That has only just been received so we're at liberty to commence any kind of rugby league specific inquiry, which we will be doing." A spokeswoman for the UKBA said today that the Crusaders would not face a criminal prosecution but could face a fine of "up to £60,000 unless they can prove to the agency that they carried out legally-required checks before employing workers from outside Europe". Huddersfield have confirmed the signing of Graeme Horne, a 24-year-old utility player who has made more than 100 Super League appearances for Hull, on a one-year contract. The prop Paul King is also expected to leave the KC Stadium to link up with Kear at Wakefield as a replacement for James Stosic, who has been released by Trinity after failing to secure a Macedonian passport that would have exempted from the club's overseas quota. Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us larger | smaller EmailClose Recipient's email address Your first name Your surname Add a note (optional) Your IP address will be logged ShareClose Digg reddit Google Bookmarks Twitter del.icio.us StumbleUpon Newsvine livejournal Facebook Mixx it! Contact usClose Contact the Sport editor football.editor@ guardianunlimited.co.uk Report errors or inaccuracies: userhelp@guardian.co.uk Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@guardian.co.uk If you need help using the site: userhelp@guardian.co.uk Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: +44 (0)20 3353 2000 Advertising guide License/buy our content Sport England rugby league team · Rugby league More news More on this story Coventry Rugby Club put into liquidation Rugby union: Coventry's owner Andrew Green has put the Championship side into voluntary liquidation Leicester slam Wasps for Sale no-show Meehan says Bath have sorted out problems Source: guardian.co.uk/