Dragons hunt for new head coach
THE DRAGONS are pondering a shake-up of their backroom team with a new head coach set to be appointed.
TRP understands they are considering moving director of rugby Dean Ryan into a mentoring role while he would also retain his place on the board.
There are several candidates in the frame but Scarlets attack coach Dai Flanagan has emerged as a serious contender to fill the role of head coach.
The Dragons players were told this week that current backs coach Gordon Ross will be leaving at the end of the season, which frees up in their budget to strengthen their backroom team.
Flanagan is currently Dwayne Peel’s assistant in Llanelli and is widely considered to be one of the best up and coming coaches in Welsh rugby. The former Pontypridd, Ospreys, and Cardiff outside-half is an attack minded coach and is heavily praised for his man management skills.
Another contender could be ex-Wales back rower Jonathan Thomas who recently left his job as head coach of Worcester shortly after they brought Steve Diamond on board. Thomas was considered for the role of defence coach at the Ospreys, along with former England blindside Joe Worsley who is coaching Castres in the Top 14, but the Swanseabased side instead opted for Darren Edwards who has been at the region on an interim basis since January.
When former Gloucester and Worcester boss Ryan was unveiled as director of rugby in 2019 it was hoped it would signal a turning point for the Dragons after many false dawns. But they have struggled for results, esperoom cially this season, with the Newport-based side failing to win a single home game.
There will be more pressure on the Dragons to improve next season given the calibre of player they have recruited. The likes of Wales props Rob Evans, and Rhodri Jones, along with physical second rows George Nott, and Sean Lonsdale should strengthen the Dragons pack, while behind the scrum Clermont Auvergne playmaker JJ Hanrahan, Bath centre Max Clarke, and Highlanders utility back Sio Tomkinson look like useful acquisitions.
Dragons hope Ryan’s hard-nosed culture, coupled with an injection of fresh ideas from an innovative young head coach could breath some new life into the side.