FORMER Dragons coach Leigh Jones has been appointed as rugby performance director at the Scarlets.
Jones will work alongside head coach Dwayne Peel in Llanelli in a wide-ranging role.
The 64-year-old most recently led rugby operations for Leicester and helped the Tigers win the English Premiership in 2022.
Jones, who captained Abertillery from hooker, coached Pontypool, Ebbw Vale, Wales A, Newport and then the Dragons.
He worked under Eddie Jones with Japan at the 2015 World Cup and then had a long spell with Hong Kong Rugby Union.
Now Jones is ready to head west to try and turn around the fortunes of the Scarlets.
He said: “It is a club with such a rich and successful heritage in rugby and one known and respected globally for developing some of Wales’ best players over the decades.
“The exciting part is there are more talented Scarlets players to come through in the future. I’m looking forward to playing my part in helping clear the runway to support Dwayne and his team to see this great club back where it belongs on the field.
“My role at Scarlets will be very similar to my work with Leicester Tigers, where I was responsible for overall rugby operations, across pathways, analysis, medical, physical development, recruitment and women’s rugby working closely to support the Head Coach.
“At this point in my career, my focus and motivation is using my experience to help develop people - both coaches and rugby support staff, equipping and supporting them to be the best they can be and helping them reach their potential.
“I am excited and keen to get started and look forward to working with the coaches and players when pre-season starts in early July.
“It’s good to be working back in Welsh rugby at a time when there’s a lot of hard work ahead, important contributions to be made and significant challenges to face.”
Head coach Peel continues to have full responsibility for all rugby team matters on the field, including team and individual performance, game plan and model, selection and the rugby programme and will make final decisions on signing and retaining players in the squad.
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