CRAIG Bartlett has admitted to being both nervous and excited by the challenge of being named as Skipton Rugby Club's new coach.

The 45-year-old Kiwi has taken on the role vacated by Dave Duxbury who guided the side to promotion to Yorkshire Three last season before joining Keighley.

Bartlett, who played for the Sandylands club when he first came to England 11 years ago, has gained all of his coaching experience with the junior sides at Yorkshire One club Bradford Salem.

He said: "I want to take my Level Three coaching qualification and to do that you have to be coaching a senior side.

"There wasn't an opportunity to do that at Salem so I was delighted when the chance to coach Skipton came along.

"I will admit that I am both nervous and excited by the challenge. I really want to help the club to continue its climb back up the divisions."

He also revealed that the post has interested him for some time.

" I did make a speculative application for the job a few years ago and nothing came of it. This time I have been given a wonderful opportunity," he said.

"There is momentum at the club following promotion and I saw in our first training session last week, the club has a pretty talented and mobile bunch of players.

"My aim is to build on the solid foundations that are in place. There will be little tweaks, but I certainly won't be ripping things apart and starting from fresh."

Bartlett, who works in Skipton for Computersave, is going to make good use of the input of existing coaches Ryan Binner, Matty Wilson, Lee Shaw and Paul Lacey.

Bartlett, who will continue to coach the Bradford Salem under-16 side this season, has Lacey running fitness sessions every Tuesday, while he takes the Thursday training.

He will see his players in action for the first time on August 11 when they face North Ribblesdale. Two further friendlies are penned in against Old Grovians and Wibsey.