EBBW Vale captain Mark Jones has signed a three-year contract with Pontypool as player and defence coach.

And Pontypool are in negotiations with Byron Hayward, the Gloucester and former Ebbw Vale and Llanelli outside half, to join as player/fitness coach.

Jones has been with Ebbw Vale for five years, captaining them for nearly three of those, taking over from Kingsley Jones, and is a former union and league international.

"There wasn't a playing role for me at Ebbw Vale and I feel I still had that role to play," said Jones.

"It's a sad day that I have to leave Ebbw Vale. I've had five good years there and I've nothing but praise for the players, coaching staff and all the board.

"I had to think long and hard about leaving the club that has done so much to further my career. But it's reached a time that the parties had a different angle on things. You're long enough retired and I happen to think that I have a lot to offer as a player/coach.

"The opportunity came up to work under Steve Jones, who is a top class coach. At the moment I'm the novice in that role so I hope I can learn a lot from him, as I've done at Ebbw Vale under Leigh Jones and Mike Ruddock."

Jones is eager to start a new challenge at Pontypool.

"During my earlier playing days at Neath I had heaps of battles at the Park, and it's a shame they've faded away," he said.

"So I'm hoping, with the collaboration of the club and the players, I can help to re-establish the standing that Pontypool have always had."

Before joining Pontypool Jones is spending six weeks playing and coaching on the Gold Coast in Australia.

Then he will link up again with Bob Jude, formerly with Ebbw Vale, now Pontypool benefactor.

"I'm delighted to be working again with one of the top professionals in rugby," said Jude of the Jones signing.

"His role is to help build the club up to become one of the top clubs in the country again. It shows we mean business as we promised the fans."

Apart from negotiating with Hayward to return to a Gwent club - he still lives here - Pontypridd and former Ebbw Vale wing Lenny Woodard could return to Pontypool.

And Tongan lock Kuli Faletau, player-coach at Tonmawr after a spell with Ebvbw Vale, is signing for Pontypool as well as acting as player-coach with a neighbouring club.

All Pontypool's new players will be introduced at the club's golf day at Alice Springs on July 22.

- Ebbw Vale have signed Wales under-21 lock Peter Sidoli from Merthyr.

He is the brother of Pontypridd lock Robert Sidoli and is the second under-21 cap Vale have signed in recent weeks.

The other is tight head prop Martin Jones from Llanelli, and others are promised.

"Peter is a very good young prospect who has built up a big reputation with Wales Under-21s and Merthyr," said Vale coach Mike Ruddock.

His arrival and the promise of Neil Edwards will offset to some extent the loss of Wales pair Nathan Budgett and Deiniol Jones to Bridgend.

"They both go with our best wishes," said Ruddock.