NEWPORT duo Paul Emanuelli and Chris Vitalini are the new men in charge of Wales Students Rugby League.

Former Wales ace Emanuelli has been appointed head coach and Italy int-ernational and Coventry Bears teammate Vitalini his assistant.

Emanuelli replaces Latham Tawhai and will lead Wales Students through to the 2021 World Cup in England.

A veteran of the game in Wales, Emanuelli has been involved in a variety of playing and coaching roles since 2005, the highlight being his two caps for the national side in 2014.

He is currently playing his rugby league for Coventry after joining them in the latter stages of the 2017 season.

He previously represented Valley Cougars, Blackwood Bulldogs, Celtic Crusaders Colts, South Wales Hornets and South Wales Scorpions, where his 282 points in 77 games made him the top points scorer in the club’s history.

Internationally, in addition to his full caps, he represented Wales Dragonhearts, Welsh Select and, most recently, Wales Students at last year’s World Cup.

Already an established coach, he has headed up the South Wales academy and reserve grade sides, Wales Dragonhearts and Wales Under-18s.

He also served as assistant coach of the Scorpions’ first team for three years from 2015-17.

Vitalini, 30, previously played for Celtic Crusaders, South Wales Scorpions and Gloucestershire All Golds, as well as winning under-19 caps for Wales.

On his international debut he directly opposed an up and coming youngster for Australia by the name of Israel Folau.

Vitalini has previously coached at Newport Titans and in the Welsh schools’ game.

The final appointment sees Rhondda Outlaws’ David Albertelli appointed team manager.

Albertelli is no stranger to Wales Rugby League’s representative programmes having filled the same role with the under-23s in the recent Rugby League Commonwealth Championship in Brisbane.

Emanuelli said: “I’m really pleased to have been given the opportunity to head up the Welsh Students programme over the next four years.

“This year is going to be a huge challenge as we are probably a bit late in starting and we’ll need to do a lot of work before we host this year’s Four Nations.

“I’m looking forward to working with David and Chris, it’s Chris’s first national coaching opportunity and I’m hoping I can help him develop as a coach.

“After going to the Student World Cup last year as a player, I realise the challenges that lie ahead and I’m excited to get going.

“Mark Jones, the previous team manager, and Latham Tawhai, have both done brilliant jobs so I know we’ve got a big task ahead to continue on from their work.

“It’s great to get back involved with rugby league in Wales.”

To qualify for Wales Students you must be a full or part-time student in the current academic year and have one or more of the following qualifications – be Welsh born, have a Welsh parent or grandparent, lived in Wales for more than five years, be studying at a Welsh college or university.

The selection process for this year’s Student Home Nations will begin with an open trial at Monmouth RFC on Saturday, April 21 from 9.30am-12.30pm.

To register, send your name, date of birth, contact details, the name of your current college/university (and club if applicable) as well as previous sides represented to DavidAlbertelli@hotmail.co.uk no later than Wednesday, April 18.