NEWPORT have appointed Leigh Jones, currently Welsh Rugby Union director for Gwent, as their new coach, writes Robin Davey.

The 42-year-old, a Gwent man who lives at Pontypool, succeeds Ian McIntosh and has been given a three-year contract.

Jones is a former Ebbw Vale and Wales A coach, who also coached the senior Welsh forwards on their tour to Japan, while the A team won the Grand Slam under his guidance.

Jones was a member of Graham Henry's backroom team and was well thought of by the former Wales coach.

"I'm delighted and looking forward to the challenge," said Jones. "Newport are establishing themselves as a leading club in Europe.

"When I look at other successful Welsh sides, they have appointed coaches with an affinity to the area.

"I'm a proud Gwent man and hope I can bring success to Newport. I think they need stability and hope the fact that I can identify with the area will help.

"I think Mac and Allan Lewis have galvanised a group of individuals and made them into a team.

"Now it's about taking that team forward and fulfilling its potential. "Obviously dealing with international and national squad players in the past two years and with the A team for two years will be invaluable because Newport are a team of star-studded internationals.

"The key for me is taking forward the team ethic." Newport chief executive Keith Grainger said: "We had coaches who applied from all over the world, but after considering Leigh Jones' experience plus being a Gwent man, he clearly has a modern and positive view of the professional game which weighs heavily in his favour."

Newport have also officially confirmed that Darryl Jones, the former Aberavon, Neath and Bristol coach, is their director of rugby.

Jones was in charge of the renowned Neath College team for 20 years when they won the Welsh Colleges, Welsh Schools and All-England sevens title.

He won the league with Neath, took Aberavon to promotion and did the same with Bristol before starting their development programme. "I'm delighted to be involved with a club as progressive as Newport on and off the field and hope to use my skills to further the development," he said.