JAMES Lowes' appointment as first-team coach at Leeds Rhinos earlier this month does not mean that he will be severing his ties with Ilkley Rugby Union Club.

"Jimmy was down last Thursday and will still be available," explained Ilkley's head of rugby Rhys Morgan, whose attention is now turning to the start of the North Premier league campaign on September 1.

"I have worked with Jimmy before in age-grade rugby at West Park Leeds, and he has great ideas, and we have put a plan together as a coaching group, although we are keeping things flexible in what has been an eight-week preparation for the season.

"We are working to a blueprint that (forwards' coach) Nathan Smith and I prepared before he left (for Loughborough Students) but are keeping things relaxed, and the lads are certainly enjoying what Jimmy is doing with them so far.

"It is off the cuff and I just try and chip in and work around him, although we have stressed that we don't want to put too much workload for the first two weeks on the lads who have played sevens as they are tired, such as JH Johnson.

"In addition, we have Gary Dempsey helping the squad as strength and conditioning coach."

Morgan added: "I am still getting used to coaching more regularly but as none of my lads have been verbally abusing me on the way home after training, I am taking that as a vote of confidence."

However, he admitted that Ilkley were still on the lookout for both a player-coach – ideally a back – and other three-quarters.

Morgan added: "We are all right in the forwards, where we have kept all of last year's pack and have added six more players, but we need some outside backs – preferably at 11, 15 and at centre.

"Some players have said that they will come down and then either don't turn up or reply to texts, but then they may turn up tonight."

Meanwhile, Ilkley have been granted a bye in the first round of this season's Yorkshire Cup.

They are set to travel to either Harrogate or Rotherham Titans in the second round in a game to be played on or before February 23.