KING REIGNING WITH ATHLETIC
CARMARTHEN Athletic have appointed Mike King as the man to spearhead their bid for success in Two West.
The highly-rated King is the new head coach at Athletic Park. He will be assisted by forwards coach Gareth Rees.
King has arrived following two hugely successful seasons with Felinfoel. He led them to the One West title in successive seasons, only to miss out on promotion to the Championship as they were twice beaten in two-legged play-off deciders. They were defeated by Maesteg Quins in 2018 and lost out to Ystalyfera this May.
He also had a three-year spell in charge of Nantgaredig.
His appointment signals a return to the club for King, who began coaching with Carmarthen Athletic Under-7s and progressed through the age groups to the youth and Druids XVs. He won the league title with the youth side.
He has also coached Carmarthen and District Schools at under-11 and under-15 level, winning the National Plate with the under-15 side.
Rees joins up with the Athletic after coaching at first-team level with both Kidwelly and Llanelli Wanderers .
He has also coached the Scarlets Academy Under-16s and WRU West Carmarthenshire Under-19s. He started his coaching career with Llangennech RFC juniors and has also coached Mynydd Mawr and Dinefwr Schools Under-15s.
The Athletic have arranged a trio of pre-season friendlies as their new coaching regime gear up for the new campaign. They head to Aberavon Quins on Saturday, August 10 (2.30pm), and host Tumble on Thursday, August 22 (7.15pm).
They also host Penygroes on Saturday, August 31, at 2.30pm.
The Athletic launch their Two West campaign on September 7 with a short trip to Burry Port. They host Nantgaredig a week later and host Pembroke in the first round of the WRU National Plate on September 21.
They end the month with a trip to Tenby United.