Shaun Connor appointed as Pontypool backs coach

The former fly-half has returned to Pooler for the 2022/23 Championship campaign as part of Leighton Jones' management team.

Connor takes over from Tom Hancock, who left last season, and will fulfil the role along with his job with the Dragons academy.

"I spoke to Leighton [Jones] before Christmas and he said he was looking for another coach to come and work with him," said Connor. "At the time I was committed to Blaina so it wasn't right then.

"The season has finished now and I felt it was a good chance to come here and have a look and spend a couple of weeks with Leighton and I've enjoyed it.

"It's not about changing everything and revolutionising things, it's just about tinkering with things and seeing where we can improve little bits of details along the way."

The 46-year-old made 20 appearances for Pooler and scored 59 points, helping the club avoid Premiership relegation in 2009/10 when also part of the coaching team.

Now he is charged with helping Pontypool return to the top flight as Jones' assistant.

"It's a great club full of history but the thing I like about the club is they have a lot of ambition to try and get to the Indigo Premiership," he said.

"The club has been in the Championship for a number of years but they retain that ambition to get to the Premiership."

Connor also played in Gwent for Abertillery, Newport, Ebbw Vale and the Dragons while he was backs coach for Russia, working under his former Rodney Parade and Ospreys boss Lyn Jones.