One of the main reasons for the long-term success of our Community Department is the way they operate so smoothly as a team and by building quality working relationships with partners and key community agencies.
Mike Sage is the Community Manager who organises the whole department with great effect and whose enthusiasm and spirit drives the community on.
Steve Lewis is our Dragons Education & Engagement Manager who ensures we deliver a wide-range of programmes, with a focus on the education sector.
Karen Burgess works as Inclusion Officer and delivers and grows our inclusion provisions, to breakdown any barriers to participation.
Tygan Pinch is our Community Officer and delivers our ever-growing Gateway Rugby project to inspire our youngsters and leads on Skills Camps.
Caitlin Rees works as our Inclusion Officer to deliver and grow our inclusion provisions to breakdown any barriers to participation.
Eleri Jackson works as a Community & Clubs Officer, enhancing the continuous growth of our work within both communities and clubs across the region.
Ashley Davies works as an Outreach Officer, having gained valuable experience as our Community Ambassadors and leading on a number of our projects.
Jack Sewell works as an Outreach Officer, with extensive experience of working within both primary and secondary education, with children of all ages.
Angharad Kibble joined the team as Community Education & STEM Officer in October 2024, working in partnership with semiconductor giants Vishay.
Morgan Steed is our Inclusion Ambassador and works closely with Karen - he is a shining light that brings enthusiasm and vibrancy to every session he supports.
Meet the Dragons RFC Community Team...
Mike Sage – Community Manager
Mike is a qualified Secondary Physical Education teacher, a WRU Level 3 rugby coach and has vast managerial experience which helps him run the community department like a well-oiled ship.
Mike was the first development officer that was employed here at Rodney Parade in 1999 and he was made manager in 2001. He has successfully seen the evolution of the department using his sharp eye for detail and planning.
Mike leads by example to maintain their current successes and he ensures the team keeps at the cutting edge of community development. Mike has a young family and is a keen sportsman himself who gained International/County honours at both rugby and cricket in his younger years before moving on to have a productive semi-professional rugby playing career. He has also had successful spells as both a rugby coach and team manager at the semi-pro level; hence, he has a huge amount of experience and sporting knowledge.
Steve Lewis – Dragons Education & Engagement Manager
Steve Lewis works as Dragons Education & Engagement Manager and brings vast experience to the team, having worked with children through various sports for over 20 years and with over seven years’ experience, working in the Sports & Education Industry, delivering in schools, on skills camps and extra-curricular activities.
His passion for sport and coaching started at an early age through, rugby, cricket, and football, gaining County honours along the way.
Steve relishes working with his Gateway schools as he loves getting children of all abilities active, learning new skills, and building their confidence.
Karen Burgess - Community Inclusion Officer
Karen joined our Community Team as Inclusion Officer and comes with a wealth of experience in the leisure industry. Karen adds real value to the team, especially with her knowledge and passion in the Inclusion, Mental Health and Early Intervention space.
She continues to make a positive impact and impression on participants across many of our provisions and is looking forward to taking our Inclusion work to another level. Watch this space!
Tygan Pinch – Community Officer
Community Officer Tygan Pinch joined our ever-growing Community team to deliver inspiration through our ever-expanding Tony Brown Gateway Rugby project, which motivates primary school pupils throughout our catchment area using rugby as the catalyst to promote health and wellbeing.
Her role also encompasses supporting our match day community experience, delivering our holiday skills camps, and adding value to our inclusion and outreach work.
Tygan has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the rugby industry from having international honours, representing the Dragons Women’s rugby team, completing the WRU Apprenticeship and many volunteer hours within our communities. Tygan was highly recommended by the WRU Apprenticeship team and we have witnessed her qualities first-hand during her volunteering work, where she has made a positive impact.
Caitlin Rees - Community Inclusion Officer
Caitlin joined our Community department in 2024 as our Inclusion Officer to bolster our Inclusion team to help grow and positively impact on our Dragons family.
We were delighted to welcome Caitlin to the department as she brings a range of experiences in all areas of inclusion. Caitlin was an apprentice for the Welsh Rugby Union in 2018 and has coached ever since across Wales.
Caitlin is very passionate about giving everyone an equal opportunity and believes that rugby is for all. Caitlin will be key in supporting and growing our Community and Inclusion provisions.
Eleri Jackson - Community & Clubs Officer
Eleri joined our Community Team in 2024 as our Community & Clubs Officer in aim to enhance the continuous growth of our work within both communities and clubs across the region.
Eleri has a wide range of knowledge and experiences within the community and sport industry, specialising in rugby following her experience as a WRU Hub Officer and delivery in a range of settings such as primary/secondary schools, rugby skills camps, extracurricular activities and within diverse communities through her coaching role with Newport Live too.
Eleri is keen to apply her experience both as a player and a coach to ensure that clubs and community opportunities are open to all and nurture the development of relationships between clubs and their communities to enable them to thrive.
Ashley Davies – Outreach Officer
Ashley works as Outreach Officer for Dragons RFC to deliver our ever-expanding Community and Inclusion provisions. Ashley joined our team having gained valuable experience as our Community Ambassadors and leading on a number of our projects.
He has a real passion for community development and is studying a professional rugby coaching degree in addition to performance analysis, strength and conditioning qualifications to add further value to his post. Ashley is also a Welsh speaker, which will support the development of our Welsh Language delivery alongside our Inclusion Officer, Caitlin Rees.
Ashley is a qualified WRU level 1 coach and working toward his Level 2. He has represented his County and continues to enjoy his rugby as a player. Ashley has a passion to help promote and grow rugby across Gwent to support local communities and inspire our Dragons Family.
Jack Sewell – Outreach Officer
Jack joined us as our Outreach Officer in 2024, having completed a Rugby Development Apprenticeship with the Welsh Rugby Union, gaining a 'Foundation Certificate in Sport Management and Development'.
He has a vast knowledge and understanding of rugby and has extensive experience of working within both primary and secondary education, with children of all ages. He is excited to bring his skills and understanding to our community team to further the growth of rugby within our region. He is looking forward to developing positive relationships across our community and inclusion landscape.
Jack is also a qualified personal trainer and has been involved within the sports and fitness industry for the last 5 years. He is passionate and dedicated to community development and believes that rugby is a sport for all. Jack will be at our match tomorrow supporting our department, so please say hello and welcome him into our family.
Angharad Kibble - Community Education & STEM Officer
Angharad is a welcome addition to our community team. She joins us to become our Community Education & STEM Officer, where she’ll work in partnership with semiconductor giants, Vishay to inspire youngsters to get into all things STEM as well as positively promoting Dragons RFC.
Angharad has previously been a part of our Dragons Family when she was on placement for her rugby coaching degree & was a key member of the team in delivering our Gateway Rugby project, as well as supporting our inclusion provisions across Gwent.
Since then she’s gone on to gain her PGCE in Primary Education and has worked as a teacher since qualifying in 2022, and enjoys the opportunities & experiences that the new Welsh curriculum gives young children & how it allows them to reach their full potential no matter their ability or background and hopes to implement this into her new role. Angharad is a fluent Welsh speaker and is keen to support our Welsh Language delivery alongside our current officers, Ashley and Caitlin.
AK is passionate about her rugby & her home club Nelson and represented Dragons Under 18’s but now enjoys coaching the players of the future within the Mini & Junior section of Nelson as well as managing the senior men’s teams at the club.
Morgan Steed – Inclusion Ambassador
Since November 2022, Morgan has had a volunteering work placement with our community team, focusing on supporting Inclusion Officer, Karen Burgess and has left a positive footprint wherever he goes.
Morgan has gone from strength to strength and his confidence has skyrocketed, which led to him being awarded the Phylyp Butler Memorial Recognition Award at the Caerphilly CBC Sports Award 2023.
We are delighted to officially welcome Morgan into our Dragons Community team, as an ‘Inclusion Ambassador’ to continue his impact, as a shining light that brings enthusiasm and vibrancy to every session he supports.
Morgan is an inspiration to everyone within our Dragons Family, he works tirelessly to help people and make everyone feel supported and happy - he’s a superstar.
Morgan enjoys supporting our 50+ groups, Sporting Memories Wales and Re-Engage Wales provisions. Morgan refers to our members as his ‘Golden Oldies’.
Morgan has become a superb role model, when engaging at our Inclusive Community Clubs, ALN schools and at our Care Home settings.
Additionally, Morgan supports and plays for all three of our inclusion rugby provisions: Dragons Pheonix Walking Rugby Team, Dragons ALLSTARS Mixed Ability Team & Dragons Wheelchair Rugby Team.
Dragons Community Ambassadors
We have a very loyal band of Community Ambassadors - backed by Melin Homes - who support our community activation, especially around our Inclusion & match day provisions. We very much value the volunteering support, which allows us to maximise delivery and positive impact.
If you're interested in becoming a Dragons Community Ambassador, contact: Community Manager – mike.sage@dragonsrfc.wales.
