Dixon gets Wales job

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Former Brisbane Broncos assistant 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.