New Barrow Raiders Ladies Head Coach Amanda Wilkinson says she is proud to be back in Cumbria after speaking to the club’s media for the first time since her appointment.
Born in Barrow, Wilkinson made history in 2014 when she became the first ever female Level 3 Rugby League coach in the World.
She is also involved with the international Men and Women’s teams in Serbian Rugby League, as assistant coach to the Men and Women’s Head Coach.
Wilkinson’s first coaching role was in the late 90s in Leeds with the Milford Marlins.
Following her development in the game, Amanda coached at both Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors with their Scholarship and Academy players. She also coached for Rugby Football League on their National Programs with teams at regional, national and international levels.
She returns to her hometown for the 2022 Betfred Women’s Super League season, leading Barrow Raiders Ladies into their inaugural season in the top flight, where they will compete in Group 2.
“I’m really proud and be honoured to be here at Barrow,” she said.
“Its been a few years since I’ve been here and I’m looking forward to a new challenge and being able to take these girls to the best they can be, competing in the Women’s Super League.
“I’m proud to be back here in Cumbria and to make a piece of history for Barrow Raiders.”
Wilkinson, who currently lives in Lancashire, coached Wigan Warriors Women to victory in the first ever Women’s Grand Final, and also currently works at University of Central Lancashire as Rugby League High Performance Coach.
She has been involved in Leeds and Wigan, and has coached the likes of former Wigan centre and new Wests Tigers recruit Oliver Gildart.
“It’s been a bit of an adventure,” Wilkinson said, reflecting on her career.
“I’m not a great planner in life, I take every day as it comes and do things with passion and I’ve just got a real love for rugby league.
“My career started at Milford Marlins over in Yorkshire and I took a love for a game and it’s just developed really.
“I had a group there that I worked with and then I went onto Leeds Scholarship and service area and worked with the Foundation at Leeds and set up their Women and Girls.
“Then I came over to Wigan to work in their community and went through the ranks there really.
“I went to coaching the Scholarship players and working with the likes of Oliver Gildart and those people at Wigan that are in the current Wigan Warriors squad.
“I then went on to coach the first ever Women’s Super League team at Wigan and won the Grand Final and it was an absolute brilliant day and a piece of history than will live in my memories forever.”