Wales have followed England's lead by appointing an Australian as their new coach but with Iestyn Harris as one of two assistants.

Former Brisbane Broncos assistant John Dixon, who has been in charge of Bridgend-based Celtic Crusaders for the last two and a half years, is the successor to Martin Hall, who has paid the price for Wales' failure to qualify for this year's World Cup.

Wales Rugby League executive chairman Mark Rowley said: "We believe that John is the perfect man for the job.

"He is a first-class coach and his dedication to developing young Welsh talent is close to his heart. John also has the massive advantage of being based in Wales."

Dixon's first match in charge will be against England, coached by fellow Australian Tony Smith, at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium on Friday, October 10.

That fixture will be the final warm-up game for England ahead of their assault on the World Cup, which starts in Australia a fortnight later, but is unlikely to include any players from the Super League Grand Finalists.

Dixon, who will combine his new role with his full-time position at the Crusaders, has appointed dual-code international Harris and Hull KR coach Justin Morgan as his assistants.

Harris, who turns 32 next week, is in the final year of his contract with Bradford Bulls and has been linked with a move to the Bridgend club if they are successful in winning a Super League licence for 2009.

The former Leeds captain, who won 25 caps during his three-year stint in rugby union with Cardiff, was a member of the Welsh team that reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup in both 1995 and 2000 and was in the side that beat Scotland 18-16 in Glasgow last November only to narrowly miss out on qualifying for this year's 10-team tournament.

He will cut his coaching teeth alongside former Welsh international Morgan, who won 10 caps from 2000-03 before becoming the youngest coach in Super League.

At just 29, Australian Morgan made a name for himself by guiding French team Toulouse to the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 2005 and took Hull KR into Super League in his first full season before turning them into play-off contenders this year.

The Wales backroom staff is completed by the appointment of another Australian, Anthony Seibold, the Crusaders assistant coach and football manager, as strength and conditioning coach, while former Wales and British Lions dual-code international John Devereux continues as team manager.

Dixon said: "I'm delighted to be taking on the role as the Welsh national coach. There are great developments going on in the game in Wales right now.

"Wales has had many past glories based on elite players but what I see for Wales now is rugby league growing at grass-roots level.

"We will hopefully have a Super League licence with Celtic Crusaders which creates a pathway for young Welsh players.

"The RFL's decision to have the home nations represented by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on a permanent basis creates the opportunity to develop a Welsh identification that we can promote and take forward.

"I'm delighted to be working with the best possible coaching staff in Iestyn Harris, Justin Morgan, John Devereux and Anthony Seibold. They are all quality personnel and the experience that they will bring to the national side is immense.

"We're looking forward to taking on England in October and we understand the challenge that confronts us."

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