English-born Welsh Rugby League international Ian Watson coached in Major League Rugby during the 2025 season. He serves as the Assistant Coach of the Seattle Seawolves, in charge of the backs and defence.

The role of Assistant Coach is Watson’s first step into Rugby Union at any level, having played and coached rugby league for his entire career prior to MLR. He represented his local side the Salford Red Devils and Leigh Centurions (now the Leigh Leopards), both in the top tier of British & French rugby league, the Betfred Super League (which also featured the short-lived Toronto Wolfpack during the 2020 season). Watson also represented Wales at international level, winning 30 caps to tie the national team record until that was surpassed by Rhys Williams in 2022. Watson also earned over 200 apperances for the Swinton Lions in the RFL Championship across three stints, from 1998-2000, 2005-2006, and 2010-2014.

As a coach, Watson guided his former team, the Salford Red Devils, to the 2019 Super League Grand Final and 2020 Challenge Cup Final. He also coached the Huddersfield Giants, another Super League side.