Dave Ellis surprise candidate for vacancy at Huddersfield.

Jun 4 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVE ELLIS, defensive expert with the French national rugby union team, is a surprise candidate for the vacancy at Huddersfield.

The 51-year-old Yorkshireman, who coached at Paris St Germain during the first season of Super League in 1996, has carved out a big reputation in the 15-man code but has thrown his name into the hat to succeed Jon Sharp at the Galpharm Stadium.

Ellis, who played for Castleford, Keighley, Doncaster and Batley as well as in Australia and France, cut his coaching teeth with French club Villeneuve after a stint at amateur club Hemel Hempstead.

He began working with the French union team in 2000 and was the only member of the coaching staff to survive the cull that followed last year’s World Cup, but recently helped Limoux win the French RL Cup and would be willing to give up his union links to take on the Huddersfield job.

“Rugby union has been a constant for me for in recent years but I’ve certainly kept my hand in when it comes to league,” Ellis said.

“I’m well qualified in terms of coaching certificates, I see a lot of matches, both in person and on television, and I’d certainly fancy coaching in Super League.

“There’s bags of potential at Huddersfield, they’ve come on in leaps and bounds during the Super League era.”

Huddersfield insist they will not rush to appoint a successor to Sharp, who became the third engage Super League coaching casualty in a fortnight when he was sacked with 18 months left on his contract.

The Giants are in 10th place after winning only four of their 15 matches so far but chairman Ken Davy claims the club will take their time over a new appointment.

“At this stage, we certainly don’t expect to be making any decision in the near future, particularly as we should have no shortage of top applicants,” said Davy.

Hull KR prop Garrett Crossman has been found guilty of a grapple tackle during his side's 24-18 Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat by St Helens.

He was fined £300 and warned over his tackle technique but avoided suspension when he appeared in front of the League’s disciplinary panel.