BRADFORD Salem have signed former Bradford Bulls star Glenn Morrison.

The 43-year-old ex-NRL star will not just have a coaching role with the Yorkshire Division One club, however.

Salem’s rugby chairman Chris Robinson said: “We very much see him as a player-coach and hope that, school commitments permitting with Bradford Grammar School, he will be available most Saturdays.

“We are incredibly pleased to sign Glenn. He has a fantastic pedigree, not only as a player but also as a coach, having spent five years at the helm of Dewsbury Rams.”

Morrison, who is head of athletics at Bradford Grammar School, played for their old boys in May at Shay Lane in the annual Richard Birkett Memorial Match against a Bradford Salem Chairman’s XV.

“That was incredibly influential in him coming to us,” admitted Robinson, “as Glenn had already joined the BGS set-up alongside our player Dan Scarbrough, who is head of rugby there.

“Glenn has been warmly welcomed into the Salem fold and his family have been warmly welcomed into the Salem fold and Glenn has already made a very positive contribution during pre-season in our touch-and-pass sessions and has shed about three stone in a self-imposed fitness regime.”

Morrison’s arrival as a skills specialist and strength and conditioning coach gives Salem a powerful trio at their helm alongside former England international Scarborough (backs coach) and ex-England Counties player Neil Spence (head coach), who has experience as a player at Premiership level with Rotherham.

But Morrison, who made 222 appearances in the NRL for Balmain Tigers, North Sydney Bears, North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels before winning a crop of player awards with the Bulls in 2007-09, is not the only summer arrival at Shay Lane

They have also signed Kiwi back-row forward Tamati Moana-Orupe and welcome back lock or back-row forward Damien Pearson, centre or winger Connor Malarkey and half-back Will Rae.

Moana-Orupe, who comes highly recommended by former Salem stalwart Peter Street – another Kiwi - hails from Toko Rugby Club in Milton, south of Dunedin.

Former skipper Pearson has been at West Leeds and Cleckheaton, Rae has been at Bradford & Bingley, while versatile back Malarkey has had a spell away from the game to train as a police officer.