Newport Gwent Dragons are pleased to announce that assistant coaches Leigh Jones and Dai Rees have signed further two-year contracts to stay with the region, in anticipation of the Rodney Parade redevelopment in 2010.
Dai Rees - who has been involved in international age grade and sevens as well as coaching with in the region - is pleased that the Dragons have extended his contract and is focused on the task ahead:
“I’m focused on ensuring that I work as part of a management team here in the region to guarantee that we have success on the field,” he said.
“Developing both current players and new signings as part of the bigger picture to produce a successful team to take the Dragons into the new stadium in 2010.”
Leigh Jones has coached within the region for several years. He added:
“Next year will be my sixth season with the Dragons, after a year with Newport, and it’s a place I’m happy to be part of. As a coaching team we put in a lot of hard work and will continue to do so for the region.”
All three Dragons coaches have put pen to paper recently, as Paul Turner also signed a two-year extension to his contract earlier this year. Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins commented:
“Leigh and Dai's coaching credentials are well known and they are part of a strong coaching team able to go forward and develop over the next two years.”
On the coaching set up, Dai Rees added:
“We’re definitely a close group, each of us born and bred within the region, and we’re committed to ensuring that successful professional rugby remains in Gwent.”