Barrow Raiders outside back Shane Toal will join Paul Crarey’s backroom team next season after being appointed the club’s new strength and conditioning coach. 

The 30-year-old will combine the position with his on-field duties during the 2026 campaign. 

Toal, who was granted a testimonial by the RFL for his services to rugby league ahead of last season, will work closely with Paddy Maher, who has been involved with the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams for a number of years. 

Scotland international Toal has spent the entirety of his career with the Raiders and is closing in on 200 appearances for the club. 

He will also celebrate his testimonial fixture in early 2026 as a Scotland representative side visit the Northern Competitions Stadium. Full details regarding that game can be found here, with tickets already on sale.

A keen fitness enthusiast outside of rugby, we are excited to provide Shane with the opportunity to take the next step in both his personal and professional development.

Everyone at the club has been impressed by the ideas he has already brought to the club’s pre-season regime, and we wish him well in the new role.

“I spoke to Steve Neale about it last year when pre-season was getting underway, and I told him that I’d be interested in the position,” Toal said.

“I’m quite into my own training and have done enough pre-seasons over the years to know what can help the lads.

“I’ve got ideas of how I want to do stuff, and I’ve been working closely with Paddy Maher who has been helping out a lot as well.

“Body management is a big area of focus, as keeping the lads on the field when the season begins is the main thing. I know what helps and what doesn’t help us players, and I don’t want to be running everyone into the ground.

“With the build-up to the season being a little shorter this year, we can use the pre-season games as a good way to improve our match fitness, in addition to the training programmes the lads have been given.”

On the appointment, Barrow Raiders chairman Steve Neale said: “When we advertised for the role, Shane expressed an interest and we are delighted to support him with his career path.

“We would like to thank the other applicants, who were all strong, but we felt that having a familiar face and looking after current staff was important to the values we hold as a club.”

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