KURT Haggerty has retired from playing and joined the coaching staff of the newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack on a three-year deal, it can be revealed.

As reported by the Telegraph & Argus on Monday, Haggerty has been presented with an opportunity to become reunited with his former Leigh boss Paul Rowley.

It can now be confirmed the 27-year-old second-rower has secured a release from his playing contract at Bradford, which still had two years to run.

Haggerty arrived at Odsal from Leigh last November on an initial one-year deal and emerged as a key figure during a turbulent campaign.

He particularly impressed against his former side when helping to create three tries in the dramatic late fightback which saw the Bulls earn a 32-32 draw at home to the Centurions.

The skilful, tough-tackling forward – who also filled in at half-back during a defeat at London Broncos – then signed a two-year contract extension in May which tied him to the Bulls until the end of 2018.

Yet former Leigh head coach Rowley was keen to bring Haggerty onto his backroom staff as the Canadian outfit seek to make their mark on League One in 2017.

The Wolfpack, headed up by Rowley as head coach and Brian Noble as director of rugby, will be full-time next season and are widely expected to win an immediate promotion to the Championship.

Haggerty is well-acquainted with Rowley from their time together at Leigh and, significantly, is carving out an impressive reputation as a burgeoning coach.

He is head coach of St Helens-based amateur outfit Pilkington Recs and has guided them to three consecutive promotions to the National Conference top flight.

The Recs dumped League One outfit London Skolars out of the Challenge Cup earlier this year to set up a plum fourth-round tie at home to Championship outfit Halifax.

They lost that 78-0 to Richard Marshall's men at Langtree Park but Rowley is keen to utilise Haggerty's coaching ability as Toronto seek to become a force in the British game.

Haggerty's exit sees him become another mainstay of the second/back-row department to leave following the departures of Danny Addy, Dale Ferguson, Jay Pitts and Matty Blythe while Tom Olbison has still not signed with any club for next season.

Last month, Toronto shelved plans to share the Tong training facility with the Bulls and are instead set to use Brighouse Sports Club as their UK base.

Bulls physiotherapist Jo McGilchrist has also been linked with a switch to the ambitious Wolfpack, who have signed Dan Fleming and Steve Crossley for next season.

Simon Finnigan, another ex-Bradford player, is also on the coaching staff and Haggerty will join Rowley's coaching team, with legendary former Bulls boss Noble overseeing the operation.