Published: 19th August 2022
Huddersfield Giants Women are delighted to announce Lori Halloran as the new Head Coach for 2023
Lori has been around Rugby since the age of eight, starting at Batley Boys where her dad was the coach. A proud moment was being selected for Yorkshire as the first ever girl to represent in an all-boys team, playing alongside Danny Brough, Rob Burrow, Danny McGuire and Chev Walker.
At the age of fourteen Halloran moved to Birkenshaw Dragons to play Open Age as Batley didn’t have a girls team.
After attending University, Lori returned to rugby with Castleford Panthers before later moving to Normanton Knights. During her time at Normanton Knights she was invited to join the England training squad then, in 2013, selected to play for England in the World Cup.
Lori comments on her experience of the World Cup “This was an unbelievable experience, and one that I will forever be proud of. When you start out, you do it for the love of the sport and don’t think about playing for your country, but once you are in the set up and see the quality of the coaches and experience the professionalism, it spurs you on to want it even more.”
After a brief spell away from the game and a couple of seasons as a player coach at Batley Ladies she signed for Leeds Rhinos in 2019. Whilst at Leeds Lori also coached the male and female Rugby League teams at Kirklees College.
Towards the back end of the 2021 season, Lori teamed up with the Giants coaching staff as assistant coach.
On her experience with the Giants: “2022 has been a very tough season for the squad. Playing in the WSL we have faced some very strong, highly experienced teams and been on the end of some heavy defeats. But what really appeals to me as a coach is the strength of character that the girls have shown all year. We have a strong foundation to build upon and develop, the attitude and effort has been phenomenal and I’m extremely excited to see where we can go next season.
As a mother of two and a teacher at Ethos College, Dewsbury I can see first-hand the impact that sport has on young people. Speaking on behalf of the team I know how important it is for the players to inspire the next generation and to create future opportunities for girls in Rugby League. I firmly believe that fostering positive relationships and creating a learning environment will help us achieve future success at Huddersfield Giants Women in the 2023 season and beyond. It’s a huge honour to be appointed the Head Coach of Huddersfield Giants Women, and I can’t wait to get started.”
James Westerby, Head of Women and Girls: “I’m delighted to appoint Lori as Head Coach of our Women’s Super League Squad ahead of the 2023 season. We have a very young talented squad playing at the highest level in the Women’s game and I feel Lori has the necessary qualities to develop this group of players. Lori has demonstrated her coaching ability, has a great rapport with the players already and possesses a great knowledge of the women’s game having played at the highest level.”
