Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Lions assistant is on shortlist to fill the vacancy at Dragons - reports

By Online Editors
The Lions staff of 2017 (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former England scum coach Graham Rowntree is reportedly in the frame to become the next head coach at Dragons, the struggling PRO14 outfit. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Welsh region have been on the look-out for a replacement for Bernard Jackman after they sacked the Irishman last December just 18 months into his three-year deal. 

Dragons chairman David Buttress claimed at the time they were seeking a “world class” successor to Jackman and walesonline.com are now reporting that Rowntree is apparently one of four candidates being considered even though he hasn’t previously worked anywhere as a head coach. 

The 2003 World Cup winning prop, who has worked as scrum coach on the last three Lions tours, has previously worked in clubs environments in England, spending time at Leicester and Harlequins either side of his assistant’s role with the English national team. 

He is currently working as an assistant at Georgia, the recent winners of the Six Nations B championship who are in Wales’ pool at the World Cup. He used an exclusive RugbyPass interview last month to signal his availability later this year for alternative employment. 

“I love it [Georgia]. I love working with them and I’m here until the end of the World Cup and then we’ll see what comes,” he told RugbyPass before going on to explain why he opted out early at Harlequins.

“It just got to the point where I looked at what I was doing and what I wanted to be doing and I decided it wasn’t for me. They didn’t want me to go and I had a year to go on my contract, but I decided it was time to leave. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“I just want to stress it was nothing to do with Paul Gustard coming in. He’s a great signing for the club and is doing fantastic things for them. It just made me think about my family, the commute, the travel and I decided to walk away. Luckily, Georgia rang me up shortly afterwards.”

Forwards coach Ceri Jones is currently in caretaker charge of Dragons until the end of this season after Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards opted not to take the job on a temporary basis. 

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out
Search