PONTYPOOL have added to their management team by appointing Stuart Lawrence as backs coach, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 37-year-old will work alongside director of rugby Alun Carter, who was appointed last weekend following the exit of head coach Mike Hook to Bridgend, forwards coach Leighton Jones and team manager Shaun Rees.

Lawrence returns after making 189 appearances for the club between 1996 and 2006, the fly-half becoming the only player in Pooler’s history to score over 1,000 league points.

“I am delighted to be back involved with Pontypool,” he said. “It is my ambition to coach at the highest level I can and I see Pontypool as the perfect opportunity to make this happen after all the extremely hard work that has been undertaken over the last two years.

“I am particularly looking forward to working with Leighton who I know from my playing days and I will not accept anything less than 100 per cent from everyone.

“With a nucleus of local boys, which for me is an important part of the Pontypool fabric, I hope we will be able to push for promotion back to where we all know this club should be.

“I want to thank everyone involved for giving me this opportunity and I am looking forward to starting pre season training and planning for a successful season.”