Holmris, 37, comes to the role following an exciting three and a half year spell as head coach at SK Aarhus in his home country of Denmark, where he took them to the top flight of the game despite starting from scratch with a relatively small budget.

 

He said: “For a Danish handball coach it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of such a project.

 

"I am looking forward to joining the programme and working with the BHA (British Handball Association).

 

It is a huge challenge, but I can’t wait to work with the squad.”

 

As a player Holmris, pictured, achieved great success, notching up 128 senior appearances for Danish first division club Bjerringbro during a six-year stay where he scored 319 goals.

 

He then moved into coaching, and after working with the youth team at Bjerringbro, he was men’s coach for Yellow Winterthur in Switzerland for three years before heading to Aarhus, where he was women’s coach for three years.

 

Chris Spice, chairman of the BHA’s performance management group, said: “We are very pleased to continue the excellent work in the British women's handball performance programme with the appointment of Jesper Holmris as head coach.

 

“Jesper has performed outstandingly well in our academy programme in Denmark.

 

"His expert coaching knowledge and his proven ability to get the best out of the British players will be exactly what is required to take the programme to the next level.

 

"We look forward to our next round matches later in the year with great excitement.”

 

Holmris takes over from Morten Arvidsson who built an excellent foundation for the programme, but stepped down to spend more time with his family.