Davies leaves Ebbw for Merthyr role...

NIGEL Davies is set to join Principality Premiership finalists Merthyr after leaving last season’s champions Ebbw Vale.

It’s believed he’s ready to put pen to paper on a lucrative three-year deal to join Sir Stanley Thomas’ Ironmen in a new role which it’s understood is being created by the ambitious club.

Davies guided Ebbw Vale to the Premiership title a year ago with a comprehensive demolition of Pontypridd in the final, but they failed to make the title play-offs this campaign, finishing a disappointing seventh in the Tier One table.

The former Llanelli centre was capped 29 times by Wales, captaining his country against France in September 1996.

He became Gareth Jenkins’ assistant coach with the Scarlets and later Wales.

When Jenkins was fired following Wales’ shock pool exit during the 2007 World Cup against Fiji in France, Davies was put in temporary charge.

Davies coached Wales against then new world champions South Africa, but moved sideways to become the WRU’s head of rugby development after Warren Gatland was appointed ahead of the 2008 Six Nations.

A few months later he replaced the sacked Phil Davies as coach of the Scarlets, leaving four years later to become director of rugby at Gloucester.

However, Davies, whose son Sam has starred for the Ospreys and made his Wales debut last autumn, was dismissed by the Aviva Premiership club three years ago, succeeding and benefiting from the development work of Wales Under-20 coach Jason Strange at Ebbw Vale ahead of the 2015-15 campaign.

Davies, 52, said: “I would like to thank the players, committee and supporters at Ebbw Vale Rugby Club for the warm welcome and support over the last two seasons and, in particular, Jonathan Jones (chairman) for providing me the opportunity and his friendship over this time.

“Having been fortunate to experience quite a bit in my rugby career I will always regard being part of this group and lifting the Premiership trophy among some of my fondest memories in the game.

“Over my time at Ebbw I have learned and taken a lot from the experience and thank the club for that. There is no doubting how special this club is.

“When I first met Jonathan to discuss the possibility of coming to Ebbw we discussed many things, most of which we have been able to deliver, but one was that I felt it was a two-year position and, unfortunately, that time has now come.”

Merthyr face Aberavon away at the Talbot Athletic Ground on Sunday in this season’s Premiership final after demolishing north Wales region RGC 1404 at The Wern last weekend.

Wales internationals Lee Jarvis and Dale McIntosh have masterminded a memorable campaign, which has been funded by the club’s multi-millionaire benefactor Thomas, but it’s believed Davies is likely to be employed above them in a wider role.

Ebbw Vale have replaced Nigel Davies by promoting forwards coach Lee Davies, a former prop with the Steelmen, Bridgend and Pontypridd, and brought in Ben Daniels from Beddau RFC as backs guru.

Jones said the appointments represented a return to Ebbw Vale’s policy of appointing young ambitious coaches, that has driven their success over the last seven years with Strange, Duane Goodfield (Cardiff Blues Academy coach) and Ceri Jones (Dragons forwards coach) having benefited from their time at Eugene Cross Park.

“This season has been a little disappointing for a number of reasons,” said Lee Davies.

“I aim to get back to basics with the group. On field, I would like us to develop our playing style, to become more expansive and have the ability to play the picture we see.

“With recruitment going well and the majority of the current squad resigned I am more than confident we have the ability and personnel to adapt and play a wider brand of rugby.

“A big target for me is to re-engage with our supporters. Our aim is to give back a little, holding supporter and family fun days so that the club engages with the whole community.” PONTYPRIDD have appointed former Cardiff Blues coach Justin Burnell as their new head coach.

The 49-year-old featured for Ponty during the early 1990s and played for a host of top Welsh clubs including Bridgend and Cardiff in his playing days.

Prior to linking up with Cardiff Blues, Burnell was academy director and a senior coach with the Sardis Road outfit and is now set for his third stint with the club.

A statement on Pontypridd’s website read: “Pontypridd RFC has appointed Justin Burnell as head coach to lead the club into the 20172018 season.

“A former player, having made 16 appearances for Ponty in the 199192 season, Burnell also represented Bridgend, Treorchy, Cardiff and Neath as an abrasive back rower and was capped by Wales at A level.

“He returned to Pontypridd, initially as academy director and then as senior coach in 2003, before moving on to the Blues, where he became head coach in 2011.

“Burnell, in the meantime, also coached at international level with Wales Under-19s, claiming the Six Nations Grand Slam and reaching the quarter-finals of the FIRA World Cup in 2006.

“Most recently, there followed a stint over the border, initially with London Welsh whom he took into the English Premiership, and then with Rotherham Titans.

“Having gained a wealth of experience as a coach and rugby administrator at the highest levels, Burnell now returns to his home patch to take up a joint role as director of rugby at Coleg y Cymoedd and head coach with Pontypridd.”

It follows the news that Dan Godfrey – who played more than 200 times for Ponty – was named as the club’s new team manager, replacing Richard Langmead, who stood down from the position earlier this month.

Former Wales international Rob Sidoli has also left Sardis Road after two seasons as the club’s forwards coach.