So, where are they now...? All the coaches in regional charge
FOR the first time since the inception of regional rugby, there will be no Welsh coach at the helm of one of our professional sides.
And, for the Cardiff Blues and Ospreys, 2018-19 will be the start of a new era under John Mulvihill and Allen Clarke.
ROB LLOYD looks back at all the coaches who have been in the regional hot-seats since 2003 and what they do now.
CARDIFF BLUES Dai Young (2003-11)
Young is by some distance the longest-serving coach of the Blues regional era, leading the capitalbased side to a Heineken Cup semi-final, an EDF Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph and a stunning Challenge Cup victory in Marseille. The former Wales and Lions prop left the Blues a year before the end of his contract to join London Wasps and has been director of rugby at the Premiership big-hitters for the last seven years.
Despite plenty of admirers, Young has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Warren Gatland as Wales coach.
Gareth Baber (2011-12)
The former scrum-half took temporary charge of the Blues, along with Justin Burnell following Young’s departure.
Is now the coach of the Fiji national sevens side and enjoying great success.
Justin Burnell (2011-12)
Like Baber, Burnell only had a brief spell at the helm. He became head coach of London Welsh a year later, guiding the Exiles to a stunning promotion to the promised land of the Aviva Premiership. Is the head coach of Pontypridd RFC.
Phil Davies (2012-14; also Scarlets 2006-08)
The former Wales captain was appointed the Blues director of rugby in 2012, but the side underperformed and he resigned midway through the 2013-14 campaign.
He also had two sharply-contrasting seasons in Llanelli; guiding the Scarlets to a Heineken Cup semi-final in 2006, but losing his job a year later. Davies is head coach of the Namibian national team who are leading the way in the Africa Cup qualification standings and look set to book their place in next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Paul John (2014 & 2015)
He and Dale McIntosh have twice been thrust into caretaker roles following the departures of Phil Davies and Mark Hammett. A World Cup-winning coach with Wales sevens, the former scrum-half was appointed head coach of the Hong Kong sevens side in February.
Dale McIntosh (2014 & 2015)
McIntosh is another who became accustomed to firefighting duties at the Arms Park. The Pontypridd icon is now head coach of Principality Premiership champions Merthyr. He still holds some pretty forthright views on rugby.
Mark Hammett (2014-15)
There was much excitement surrounding the appointment of the tough-talking Kiwi as the Blues’ director of rugby.
But barely six months into his first season, Hammett was back in New Zealand, after being released at his own request for personal reasons.
After a spell as head coach of Japanese Super Rugby franchise the Sunwolves, Hammett was added to the Highlanders back-room team. He is also assistant coach with provincial side Tasman.
Danny Wilson (2015-18)
A forwards specialist, Wilson had spells with the Dragons, Scarlets, Bristol and was also Wales Under-20s coach before arriving at the Arms Park. After two seasons at the helm, he announced last September that his third would be his last and said his farewells with a glorious European Challenge Cup success in Bilbao.
Originally appointed forwards coach at Wasps, Wilson has since accepted a position under Gregor Townsend with the Scotland national team .
John Mulvihill (2018-)
The relatively unknown Aussie will be looking to build on the momentum created in the second half of last season. A former assistant at the Western Force, he has been coaching in Japan with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars, Kintetsu Liners and Honda Heat.
Mulvihill is the eighth Blues coach in seven years.
CELTIC WARRIORS Lynn Howells (2003-04)
The experienced and widelyrespected Howells was the man tasked with guiding the new Bridgend/Pontypridd entity into the regional era.
However, the ill-fated Warriors lasted just one season and Howells’ coaching journey then took him outside of Wales to Leonessa in Italy, Edinburgh, Doncaster and more recently Romania, where he was in charge of the national team for six years. Howells resigned from that post in March.
DRAGONS Mike Ruddock (2003-04)
The Dragons haven’t been able to reach the giddy heights they did under Ruddock, with the Men of Gwent finishing third in the inaugural season of the Celtic League. Ruddock went on to enjoy a sparkling Grand Slam success with Wales in 2005 before an acrimonious split a year later.
Of late, he has been enjoying a trophy-laden spell with the Lansdowne club side in Dublin.
Declan Kidney (2004)
The Munster favourite, who went on to coach the Ireland national team, had the briefest of tenures at the Dragons, spending three months in the job only to depart for Leinster before the first competitive match.
Kidney is now the director of rugby at London Irish.
Chris Anderson (2004-05)
The no-nonsense Aussie arrived in Newport following a glittering coaching career in rugby league.
The Dragons finished fourth in his only season in charge, but Anderson’s contract wasn’t renewed. After leaving the NRL in 2007, he ventured into the business world and runs a successful Labour Hire company.
Paul Turner (2005-11)
A firm favourite from his playing days with Newbridge and Newport, the former fly-half returned to Gwent following various coaching roles in England. Spent six years at Rodney Parade, but left the region by mutual consent in 2011 after a difficult period. Is head coach of National League 1 side Ampthill Rugby and also works part time with the Welsh Rugby Union’s Exiles talent identification programme.
Darren Edwards (2011-14)
After initially replacing Turner in a
caretaker capacity, the former Wales A scrum-half took on the permanent role in April 2011, spending three seasons in the hot seat. Joined the coaching team in Bath and remains one of Todd Blackadder’s assistants at The Rec.
Lyn Jones (2014) see Ospreys Kingsley Jones (2014-17)
Initially appointed as assistant to Lyn Jones, the former Wales flanker was appointed head coach for the 2014-15 campaign.
Left his role following the Welsh Rugby Union takeover of the region last year, Jones has been in charge of the Canada national side since last September.
Bernard Jackman (2017-)
The former Ireland hooker arrived in Gwent following six years in France with Grenoble.
After a testing, injury-plagued first season in charge, Jackman will be hoping for better things from a revamped squad.
oSprEyS Lyn Jones (2003-2008)
The man handed the reins of a bold-new Neath-Swansea venture, Jones turned the side into a trophy-winning force.
Since leaving the Ospreys, the former Wales flanker has had spells at London Welsh, the Dragons and with the Namibian development team the Welwitschias. Is set to become head coach of Russia’s national side for the 2019 World Cup.
Sean Holley (2008-12)
For so long Jones’s trusted lieutenant, Holley stepped into the hot seat in 2008 before leaving in 2012.
Had a brief short-term spell with the Scarlets before joining Bristol. Is a respected media analyst.
Scott Johnson (2009-12)
Not a head coach, but a director of coaching who was very much appointed to be a driving force on and off the pitch at the region.
Johnson left at the end of his three-year Ospreys contract to become Scotland’s assistant coach under Andy Robinson.
He briefly took over the main role in 2013/14 following Robinson’s exit, before being appointed as director of rugby at Scotland Rugby – a role that basically sees him overseeing the game in Scotland.
Steve Tandy (2012-2018)
Even Tandy admitted it was a shock to succeed Holley, but the ex-Neath and Ospreys flanker celebrated Magners League success within months of his appointment.
Left the Ospreys at the start of this year following a disappointing run of results.
Is now working in Australia with the Waratahs Super Rugby franchise and is understood to have been offered a two-year deal to become defence coach at the Sydney-based side.
Allen Clarke (2018-)
The Northern Irishman joined the Ospreys back-room team as forwards coach at the start of the 2017-18 campaign, then took on the reins on an interim basis following Tandy’s exit in January. Was handed a three-year contract as the region’s new head coach in April.
ScArlETS Gareth Jenkins (2003-2006)
Jenkins’ tenure in Llanelli, of course, stretched long before the advent of regional rugby.
He had guided the Scarlets, in their club guise, to two European semi-finals, with the west Walians then established as one of the leading clubs on the continent. Was appointed Wales coach in 2006 ahead of the 2007 World Cup, but was axed in unceremonious fashion following Wales’ shock exit at the pool stage and returned to the Scarlets to take on a development and recruitment role. Stepped down in 2016, but is still involved in talent identification for the region. Phil Davies (2006-08) see Cardiff Blues
Nigel Davies (2008-12)
The former Scarlets centre, previously assistant to Jenkins with the Scarlets and Wales, replaced Phil Davies at the helm and spent four years in charge before taking up a post as Gloucester’s director of rugby.
After a spell coaching at Ebbw Vale, Davies is now chief executive of Principality Premiership champions Merthyr.
Simon Easterby (2012-14)
Was the natural successor to Nigel Davies in the Scarlets hot seat. The 65-times capped Ireland flanker left in 2014 to take up the position of forwards coach with Joe Schmidt’s national team. Is currently assisting with Ulster in a temporary role.
Wayne Pivac (2014-)
The Kiwi, initially appointed as forwards coach, took charge following Easterby’s departure and is now looking forward to his fifth season at the West Walians.
Guided the Scarlets to the Guinness PRO14 title in 2016-17 and a Champions Cup semi-final in 2018. Is understood to be on the shortlist to replace Warren Gatland following next year’s World Cup.