Gareth Ellis could leave Hull FC at the end of the year.
Hull FC legend Gareth Ellis.(Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC legend Gareth Ellis is set to leave the club at the end of the season, should a move to a Super League rival be completed, Hull Live understands.
Ellis is currently in a director of rugby role, having re-joined the Black and Whites ahead of the 2025 season after a brief spell at Rugby League Cares. Before that, he had multiple off-field roles at the club after retiring as a player for the second time in 2020.
But his future beyond the end of the current season could be away from Hull, with York Knights looking to complete a deal to get Ellis onto their coaching staff for 2027 and beyond.
Looking to bolster their performance departments, Ellis would offer a wealth of leadership and experience to York, working under head coach Mark Applegarth.
The now 45-year-old could be joined at York by Aidan Sezer, with the Hull captain understood to be on the Knights’ radar – who are confident they can shake off recent financial woes after asking for an advance this month and keep hold of their Super League place.
Ellis, a double Challenge Cup-winning skipper at Hull, won everything in the British game as a player, tasting the Super League title and World Club Challenge while at Leeds Rhinos. He also had a highly successful career in the NRL with the Wests Tigers after breaking through at Wakefield Trinity – and, in fact, had a spell at York, playing in the North Yorkshire club’s lower grades.
Working in numerous coaching and operational roles at the Black and Whites, Ellis’ potential departure from Hull may seem a shock after being sounded out by club CEO Richie Myler to return to the club two years ago but perhaps suggests a return to coaching is on the cards for the former back rower.
Meanwhile, the Black and Whites will make some significant changes this off-season, both in terms of their playing squad and their performance departments.
Hometown man Steve McNamara will move into the head coach role ahead of pre-season and is expected to have a very hands-on role across the club, both in terms of coaching and recruitment, whereas former player Scott Taylor will return to the club as an assistant coach.
Elsewhere, physiotherapist Nathan Mill is joining from St Helens, while more appointments are expected to thicken out the backroom staff. On the playing front, Hull have signed Leigh Leopards full-back Bailey Hodgson and Catalans Dragons hooker Alrix Da Costa, with some departures also expected at the end of the season.