Super League chief Gary Hetherington has admitted that the loss of former Great Britain star Joe Lydon to rugby union will be a blow to the 13-man code.

The former Wigan centre, who resigned as the Rugby Football League's performance director nine days ago, has been appointed as manager of the England under-19 rugby union team.

He becomes the third high-profile league man to switch codes, following in the footsteps of Phil Larder and Ellery Hanley, who are employed in coaching roles with England and Bristol respectively.

Rugby league has also been hit by a loss of key people in administrative roles. Super League are currently looking for their fourth chief executive in three years and the RFL are operating without a top officer.

``It's certainly disappointing from a league point of view to be losing another top administrator, there is no doubt about that,'' said Hetherington, the Leeds Rhinos chief executive and a director of Super League Europe.

``I have no doubt that he will prove to be a big asset to rugby union. The legacy of Joe and his team to rugby league will be witnessed shortly when the world-class performance programme is put in place.''

Lydon, 37, who won 30 caps with Great Britain, quit his post at League headquarters in the wake of the controversial appointment of Australian David Waite as international consultant but was anxious to complete his task of securing funding from Sport England.

Hetherington added: ``I was very disappointed with the way he left the game. I do feel that there are a lot of outstanding people working in development and I don't believe they've been given the recognition they deserve.

``Player development is one of the aspects of the game's administration that we can be proud of in the last two years and that is down to people like Joe. I believe the rugby union will certainly gain from his expertise.''

Lydon originally played rugby union but joined Widnes in 1982 and went on to become one of the most successful players in the game.

He won seven championship and five Challenge Cup medals following a world record #100,000 move to Wigan and became the club's football manager when he hung up his boots. He also acts as a summariser for the BBC in both their television and radio broadcasts.

In addition to his role as team manager, Lydon will have a direct involvement in youth development and assist with the establishment of the RFU academy network.

``I am delighted to have been chosen to develop and enhance the skills of young players in England,'' said Lydon.

``I am confident that my background will stand me in good stead and I will spend the first three months of my new job travelling the country, meeting coaches within both the professional clubs and the constituent bodies to establish the most effective routes to identify and develop talented young players.''

Read our Joe Lydon factfile