FORMER Bradford Bulls player Paul Anderson has been appointed as the full-time assistant to England boss Wayne Bennett.

Anderson, 44, will support Bennett alongside fellow assistants Denis Betts and Paul Wellens in preparing the England side for the 2016 Ladbrokes Four Nations Series and 2017 World Cup.

The former Bradford, St Helens and Great Britain prop, who won 15 international caps, will start his new role on Monday, working closely with new England team manager Jamie Peacock in planning training sessions and will act as Bennett's ears and eyes throughout the year.

Anderson said: "The more I thought about this role, the more I thought it would be a good fit for me.

"The biggest factor in taking this job was the opportunity to work alongside Wayne, Denis and Paul.

"To see people who have been in the game for long periods and learn from them is something I'm looking forward to.

“Wayne's experience is unquestionable and Denis is doing a great job at Widnes.

“Paul is a young, upcoming coach and someone who's been there and done that.

"I can't wait to get started on Monday morning.

“All the players who will get selected are the elite in this country and are all there with a common goal.

“I can't see there being much teaching but more mentoring and helping them be the best they can be."

Anderson, who was a member of Bradford's "awesome foursome" that laid the foundation for the Bulls' success in the early days of Super League, cut his coaching teeth at Huddersfield under Jon Sharp and Nathan Brown before taking over the top job in 2012 and in his first full season led the Giants to the League Leaders' Shield.

He lost the job midway through the season after Huddersfield won just four of their first 18 matches.

Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood said: "We are delighted to have secured the services of Paul as a full-time member of the England coaching set-up.

“Paul has superb calibre as a coach, a thorough knowledge of the English game and he is an outstanding addition to the team."

Bennett's first game as England coach will be against France in Avignon on Saturday, October 22, a week before their opening Four Nations match against New Zealand in Huddersfield.