Player power helping Dragons

KINGSLEY Jones has revealed how he has given greater responsibility to the players since taking over as Dragons boss following the departure of Lyn Jones.

Caretaker chief Jones will be at the helm for a fourth game this weekend as the Gwent outfit take on the Scarlets in the Judgement Day showdown at the Principality Stadium.

He has stepped up from his role as head coach and taken overall charge in the wake of director of rugby Lyn Jones’ absence and then exit from the region.

Speaking about his namesake’s departure, Kingsley said: “Of course, it has an effect. Lyn is a smart rugby man and we are a man down.

“But ultimately, you have got to get on with it. Leading the team is something I’ve always done.

“It’s the time of the season where preparation is still important, but we haven’t got to concentrate on the basics too much.

“Coming to the last few weeks of the season, if we don’t know what we are doing now, we will never know.

“I have given a bit more ownership to the players. Being a man down, I have allowed the forwards to lead a little bit more on set pieces and so on and they are enjoying that responsibility and seem to be warming to it.”

Jones would love to stay at the helm next season, but ideally in the capacity of a hands-on head coach.

“I have been a director of rugby. I understand that role. It’s a good role, but you spend 30-40 per cent of your time not really doing the things that you enjoy doing,” said the former Sale boss.

“Is a rugby man the best man to be doing that? I have always questioned that.