Ryan Carr departs Castleford Tigers after stand-down period
Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr has left the club for personal reasons, bringing a premature end to a tenure that lasted just 21 Super League matches.
The 38-year-old Australian was appointed on a three-year deal in August 2025 after a spell as assistant coach at NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons. He won seven of those 21 matches in charge, leaving Castleford ninth in the 14-team Super League table when his departure was confirmed.
Carr had been stood down by the club two weeks before the announcement was made public, according to BBC Sport. Director of rugby Chris Chester said the club were "following a process" regarding Carr during that period.
The club had already confirmed that Carr would miss their round-22 home fixture against Hull KR for personal reasons, with the BBC reporting that on 6 August. Castleford later issued a statement to clarify that the departure was genuinely for personal reasons, pushing back against speculation circulating on social media.
Owner Martin Jepson said he was "sorry" that Carr had left. The club's own statement thanked him for his efforts and wished him and his family well for the future.
For the remaining four games of the campaign, Jason Netherton will assist Chester and Luke Robinson in steering the team. Netherton steps into a coaching setup that now faces a run-in without its appointed head coach.
Castleford were due to visit St Helens on the Saturday following the announcement, a tough away trip against one of Super League's traditional powers (the league is the top division of rugby league in England, a 13-a-side code distinct from rugby union). For a club sitting ninth with four matches left, the priority shifts quickly from a coach's vision to simply picking up results.
Seven wins from 21 is a record that tells its own story about a difficult season at the Jungle — Castleford's home ground, Wheldon Road. The three-year contract Carr signed pointed to a longer-term project. That plan now rests with whoever comes next.
