We are delighted to confirm that both Men’s Head Coach Mark Dunning and Men’s Assistant Coach/Head of Player Development Leigh Beattie have committed to the Canes until the end of the 2029 season!
Before joining the Canes, Mark and Leigh were long-serving stalwarts of now-Super League outfit Bradford Bulls. Mark had undertaken virtually every role a playing coach could at the Bulls over a nine-year period at Odsal, with his most recent positions being Reserves Head Coach and First Team Assistant Coach before taking over the Head Coach role in July 2022. Leigh also held numerous roles at Odsal during his time with Bradford, with his final positions being both the Reserves Head Coach and Academy Head Coach. Not satisfied with just working together at a club level, the pair also coached (and continue to coach) together on the international stage as part of the Scottish international team.
2026 represents Mark and Leigh’s fourth year and third full season in Birmingham after both joined the club during the middle of the 2023 season. It is fair to say the Canes have gone from strength to strength on the field since then. After steering a difficult first half of the 2023 season into historic away wins over Doncaster and Oldham to provide a respectable finish at the end of the year, they guided the club into their highest ever finish in League One (5th) and first-ever play-off campaign in their first full season in 2024. Those efforts saw Mark rightfully awarded the Betfred League One Coach of the Year, although in his speech he acknowledged that Leigh and the rest of the backroom staff were also instrumental in him receiving that award. Last season saw the club beat numerous heartland clubs for the very first time, with the club matching its previous league position and securing its highest ever points tally (19).
Now faced with new challenges as the Canes enter their maiden Championship campaign at our new home of Avery Fields, we are excited to see what Mark and Leigh can deliver on-and-off the field as the Canes aim of establishing rugby league in an area outside of the heartlands takes its next steps. We have no doubt fans will be ecstatic about the news that Mark and Leigh have committed to the club to guide us through a new and exciting phase for rugby league in Birmingham and beyond.
Eorl Crabtree, Managing Director at the Midlands Hurricanes, said:
I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to secure Mark and Leigh for the next few years. Retaining a head coach and assistant coach of their quality is hugely important for this club and sends a clear message about the stability, progression and clear direction of the Midlands Hurricanes.With our move to Avery Fields, we’re entering an exciting new chapter as a club and having Mark and Leigh committed is a key part of that. We now have alignment across the board, from our home base and facilities through to our coaching, playing philosophy and long-term ambitions. That shared vision is vital as we look to the next stage of the Hurricanes’ progression.
The continuity they provide allows us to keep building properly, develop players, strengthen our culture and play a central role in growing rugby league across the Midlands. For everyone connected to the club, this is a really positive step forward and I’m excited about what we can achieve together over the coming years.
I’m delighted to take up the offer from Mike and Eorl and commit my future to this club.From the day I first met Greg (Wood) and Mike I understood the passion and vision behind this club and this hasn’t wavered one bit. The journey we’re on is a unique and exciting one and I’m honoured to work with a great group of staff and players.
The fans have welcomed me and my family to this club with open arms and we will continue striving to repay them along this journey.
2026 and beyond promises to be an exciting challenge on and off the field and one I’m looking forward to as we embrace it together.
I am delighted to have extended my contract at the Canes; it’s a club out of the heartlands that is moving in the right direction.Now we have secured a ground we can call home in Avery Fields, this will help grow our existing fantastic and loyal fan base. We still have a lot of work to do as a club to put Midlands on the map and that’s why I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved for another four years. We have a great bunch of players and staff that are a pleasure to work alongside and I know they all buy into the aims the club has for the sport.
Mike and his vision alongside Eorl to expand Rugby League in the Midlands, the club building on the recent successful seasons of the team under Mark’s guidance, and the recent changes to the league format, mean exciting times ahead for the club and everybody involved. I can’t wait to get stuck in.
