PAUL Wellens has spoken of the pride and privilege he feels at being named as Saints’ head coach following the departure of Kristian Woolf.

The 42-year-old former full back, who won every domestic honour in the game in 495 appearances for his hometown Saints, has signed a two-year deal with the club having the option of a third year.

He will be assisted by France’s World Cup coach Laurent Frayssinous and the vastly experienced Ian Talbot.

Wellens, who has been diligently building his coaching credentials for club and country since hanging up his playing boots in 2015, has worked under Justin Holbrook and Woolf in Super League, whilst also assisting Steve McNamara, Wayne Bennett and Shaun Wane at international level.

Part of the club’s coaching team since 2015 when he became Player Performance Manager, Wellens has worked with the Academy and Reserves, before stepping up to the assistant coach role – playing his part in Saints’ four-in-a-row Super League titles.

Wellens, said: “I am immensely proud to be named head coach of a club like this.

“Given the fact it is a club that I hold very close to my heart and one that I have been involved with all my life, it is a huge privilege and a huge honour for me.

“I have worked with some great coaches who have been hugely successful, and I have had some wonderful experiences along the way too.

“I have learnt a lot I will lean on those experiences as I take the reins as head coach.”

Saints have built a formidable side this past four seasons – and have had a toughness instilled into them under Woolf that has made them difficult to beat.

Wellens is looking to build on that by adding a few tweaks to the side’s attacking game without diminishing the aspects that have made them such an invincible force.

“I will take knowledge from all those coaches, but I also have my own ideas and philosophies and I will want the team to play my way.

“I know the fans and the town like an attractive style of rugby and I want to expand on that a little bit. Having said that, we also need to maintain the desire, the hard work and that defensive steel as that is what gets you over the lines in big games.

“What success has given this group over the last few years is a thirst for more and I also have that as a coach. I want to continue that. The challenge year on year does get tougher and it is one that we are going to have to rise to again.”