MAJOR changes have taken place at Selby RUFC ahead of the new season.

Former Headingley, Rotherham and Yorkshire No 8 forward Richard Selkirk has taken over as coach from Steve Cruise and Jason Cicero appointed skipper.

Cruise has joined Hull Ionians' coaching set-up but Selby have acted quickly by replacing him with Selkirk, who has been on the coaching staff at Rotherham for the last four years.

Selkirk has brought former York player Paul Scott with him. Stand-off Scott, who will also play at centre, has recently moved to Brayton, near Selby, and assisted Selkirk at Rotherham.

Other changes see the return from Morley of scrum half Matthew Smith and new faces in the backs in the shape of winger Jeff Stier and centre Tim Horner.

However, Selby will not have the point-scoring services of ace marksman Carl Paterson, who has joined Hull Ionians.

Former skipper Sam Longthorp has been appointed chairman of rugby after a spell as one of the club's most successful captains.

Last season's leader, Tom Bayston, is standing down because of work commitments, so the Yorkshire Cup semi-finalists have handed the captaincy to Welsh second row Cicero, who is in his third season at Sandhill Lane.

He has Heineken League experience with Ebbw Vale, Neath and Pontypridd and was voted player of the year last year.

Selby are scheduled to open their Yorkshire One campaign at promoted Scarborough on Saturday.

SELBY

Yorkshire One

September: 8 Scarborough (a), 22 Beverley (h), 29 York (a).

October: 6 Yarnbury (h), 20 North Ribblesdale (a), 27 Hull (h).

November: 10 Sheffield Tigers (a), 17 West Park Bramhope (h)

December: 1 Pontefract (a), 8 Old Brodleians (a), 22 Pocklington (h)

January: 5 Pontefract (h), 12 West Park Bramhope (a), 26 Sheffield Tigers (h).

February: 2 Hull (a), 9 North Ribblesdale (h), 23 Yarnbury (a)

March: 2 York (h), 9 Beverley (a), 16 Scarborough (h),

April: 6 Pocklington (a), 13 Old Brodleians (h)

Updated: 12:10 Wednesday, September 05, 2001