Former Wales star Mefin joins Ryan’s revolution at Dragons
HUGELY respected Wales Grand Slam winner Mefin Davies is following Dan Baugh to the Dragons as the latest piece in Dean Ryan’s Gwent revolution.
Former hooker Davies, 47, will leave his role as scrum and assistant forwards coach at Gallagher Premiership club Worcester Warriors to move home to Wales.
Ex-Canada international and Cardiff rugby cult figure Baugh also links up with the Dragons next campaign as fitness chief after handing in his notice at Wasps.
Former France and Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam was drafted in as a consultant by Dragons director of rugby Ryan earlier this campaign and has worked wonders at improving the scrum and propelling tighthead prop Leon Brown into the Wales matchday squad for the Six Nations.
“Investing in our coaching environment will improve us as a team, so it’s pleasing to announce that Mefin will be joining us next season,” said ex-England backrower Ryan.
“I know Mefin very well after we worked together during our time at Worcester, where he guided the development of Warriors’ talented forwards.
“He has made a real impression in the English Premiership and we now looking forward to seeing the impact he can make at Dragons.”
The popular Davies started his career at Carmarthen Quins before making his name with Dunvant and Neath.
He joined Pontypridd and made his Wales debut against South Africa in Cape Town in 2002. He was in his country’s squad for the 2003 World Cup in Australia.
Davies spent the first year of regional rugby with Celtic Warriors but was left without a professional contract when they folded in 2004.
He took up a £9,000 a year offer from Neath to play part-time in the Welsh Premiership, the Ospreys later using him on a match by match basis.
You can read the full story of his “disgusting” treatment here.
Davies signed for Gloucester just before being Wales’ starting hooker for the 2005 Six Nations title - then coach Mike Ruddock’s team won the country’s first Grand Slam since 1978 - and later moved to Leicester Tigers before ending his playing career at the Ospreys.
“I’ve worked with some excellent coaches and learned a lot from people like Dean, Gary Gold and Alan Solomons,” Davies told WalesOnline last year.
“My job, the point of every coach, is to make players better. Hopefully, I’m doing that.
“The league [Gallagher Premiership] is demanding and you have to be on the ball.
“But it is also satisfying when you see someone making improvements and you have helped in a small way in that process.”