MICKY Higham will join the Leigh Centurions coaching set-up following his retirement from playing.

Leigh-born Higham bookended his professional career with the Centurions and enjoyed successful spells at St Helens, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves. Today he has taken up the role of strength and conditioning coach with the Betfred Championship club.

Higham said: "My job will be trying to get the lads in the best possible condition for the season. I've always enjoyed training and I have my own gym in Leigh and it's a part of the sport I've always been interested in.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and I will be trying to apply the principles I lived by as a player – to work hard, set standards and give your all.

"It's new territory to be on this side of the fence so it's daunting but also exciting."

Leigh head coach John Duffy is delighted to retain Higham's services and expects him to have a major impact on the team.

Duffy said: "Micky was a massive part of the reason we overachieved last year. He sets high standards and the players around him respond to that.

"Last season, he'd be the first to admit that his legs might have gone a bit but nothing else. He was still as sharp as ever and good around the group. He continues to set standards with his fitness and I'm really excited to see where he takes us, fitness-wise as a group during the off-season."

Higham actually started the 2019 season as Leigh's strength and conditioning coach but was unable to devote himself to the role as he continued to play regularly.

As a player, Higham, who is the proud holder of #HN1153 made more 557 appearances, scoring 131 tries. He and also played for Great Britain and England.

Micky Higham is sponsored by JRs.