Dragons rising stars Jason Tovey, Lewis Evans and Dan Lydiate are lending their skills to the Dragons of the future as they join Hugh Gustafson and the coaching teams of the Dragons Under 16 side.
Evans has been named Head Coach of the Under 16 side with Bargoed RFC’s Dai Lynch as Backs Coach and Gustafson will coach the forwards.
In a change to the set-up, there will also be development side in the Under 16 system, coached by Gareth Lewis and Michael Burke. Lydiate and Tovey will be teaming up as skills coaches for both the Under 16 and Development sides.
“This is a great opportunity for the guys who have come through the academy system to give something back to the next generation,” said Dragons Academy Manager Will Thomas. “It will be fantastic for the Under 16 players to get guidance from these up and coming international players.”
“Having come through the academy system, I am very aware of the value of the age-grade setup in our region, said Lewis Evans. “After coaching the districts for the last two years, I wanted to make a step up to elite age grade rugby
“Working together with Dragons players and the experienced coach Dai Lynch, this is a great opportunity for us to put something back into the community by helping develop the future stars of Rodney Parade.
“It will be great to maybe play alongside some of these youngsters at Rodney Parade in a few years.”
Under 16 and Development Management and Coaching Team
Rugby Manager Wayne Pugh
Team Support Steve Hill
Skills Coach Jason Tovey / Dan Lydiate
Coaching Team (Under 16)
Head Coach Lewis Evans
Backs Coach Dai Lynch
Forwards Coach Hugh Gustafson
Coaching Team (Under 16 Development)
Forwards Coach Gareth Lewis
Conditioning / Backs Coach Michael Burke
Under 16 Squad
Michael Adams (Heolldu Comp , Penallta ), Hallum Amos (Monmouth Boys School , Monmouth ), Rhys Anderson (Caerleon , Caerleon RFC), Gareth Beaven (King Hendry V111, Abergavenny ), James Benjamin (Bassaleg , Rogerstone RFC ), Jack Bruten (Kingstone High , Abergavenny ), Luke Buckley (Cwm Rhymney , Rymney RFC ), Scott Cole (Croesyceilog , Cwmbran ), Luke Connolly (St Joshephs School , N/A), Ben Edwards,
Garen Eldred ( , Cirevcester RFC.), Joshua Evans (Heolddu Comp., Penallta ), Joshua Everettt (Croesyceilog , Cwmbran ), Dominic Franchi (Brynmawr Foundation , Abergavenny RFC ), Daniel Goode (Llanbarnam Comp , Cwmbran RFC ), Joshua Guy (King Hendry School V111, N/A), Andrew Hancock , Thomas Hicks (Heanor Gate , Derby), Aeron Hughes (Heolddu Comp. , Penallta, Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly County ), Robbie Hughes (Kings International , Reedoniani Weybridge, Surrey), James Johnson (Crickhowell High , Abergavenny ), Niall Martin (Llanarnam Comp., NHSOB), Luke Morgan ( Abergavenny ),
Gareth Price (Finham Park , Broadstreet ), Kyle Pyart (Llswerry High , Pill Harriers ), David Rossiter (Croesyceilog Comp , Cwmbran RFC ), Matt Sevenoaks (Monmouth, N/A), Thomas Shipp (Newbridge , Penallta Juniors ), Jonathan Stark (Croesyceilog , Cwmbran ),
Under 16 Development Squad
Scott Andrews (Bassaleg, Rogerstone), Jacob Bates (Charlton, Welsh Exiles), Ben Coles (Lewis Pengam, Penallta), Ben Cornwell (Wimleton, Welsh Exiles), Ethan Davies (Abersychan, Pontypool Utd), George Davies (Caerleon, NHSOB), Nathan Day ( Pontypool United), Elliot Dee (Newbridge Comprehensive, Penallta), Jack Dixson (Newbridge Comprehensive, Nelson RFC), Rhys Donovan (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymney, Rhymney RFC), Lewis Edwards (N/A, Abergavenny RFC), Rhys Everitt (Rhymney Comp, Rhymney RFC& Rhymney Valley), Joseph Franchi (Brynmawr Foundation, Abergavenny RFC), Patric Hurley (St Joshephs Rc, Pill Harriers), Conor Imms (Abersychan, Pontupool Unt), Rhys Jones (Croesyceilog, Cwmbran), Ryan Jones (St Albans, Pontypool United), Derryn Jones (Tredegar Comprehensive, Tredegar), Joel Kendal (Llantarham, NHSOB), Brandon Kent (West Mon , Cwmbran), Scott Matthews (Rhymney Comp, Penallta), William Oliver (St Martins, Caerphilly), Johnathan Rogers (Heathsida Weybridge, Reeds Weybridge), Ashley Smith (Tredegar Comprehensive, Rtb Ebbw Vale ),
Evans has been named Head Coach of the Under 16 side with Bargoed RFC’s Dai Lynch as Backs Coach and Gustafson will coach the forwards.
In a change to the set-up, there will also be development side in the Under 16 system, coached by Gareth Lewis and Michael Burke. Lydiate and Tovey will be teaming up as skills coaches for both the Under 16 and Development sides.
“This is a great opportunity for the guys who have come through the academy system to give something back to the next generation,” said Dragons Academy Manager Will Thomas. “It will be fantastic for the Under 16 players to get guidance from these up and coming international players.”
“Having come through the academy system, I am very aware of the value of the age-grade setup in our region, said Lewis Evans. “After coaching the districts for the last two years, I wanted to make a step up to elite age grade rugby
“Working together with Dragons players and the experienced coach Dai Lynch, this is a great opportunity for us to put something back into the community by helping develop the future stars of Rodney Parade.
“It will be great to maybe play alongside some of these youngsters at Rodney Parade in a few years.”
Under 16 and Development Management and Coaching Team
Rugby Manager Wayne Pugh
Team Support Steve Hill
Skills Coach Jason Tovey / Dan Lydiate
Coaching Team (Under 16)
Head Coach Lewis Evans
Backs Coach Dai Lynch
Forwards Coach Hugh Gustafson
Coaching Team (Under 16 Development)
Forwards Coach Gareth Lewis
Conditioning / Backs Coach Michael Burke
Under 16 Squad
Michael Adams (Heolldu Comp , Penallta ), Hallum Amos (Monmouth Boys School , Monmouth ), Rhys Anderson (Caerleon , Caerleon RFC), Gareth Beaven (King Hendry V111, Abergavenny ), James Benjamin (Bassaleg , Rogerstone RFC ), Jack Bruten (Kingstone High , Abergavenny ), Luke Buckley (Cwm Rhymney , Rymney RFC ), Scott Cole (Croesyceilog , Cwmbran ), Luke Connolly (St Joshephs School , N/A), Ben Edwards,
Garen Eldred ( , Cirevcester RFC.), Joshua Evans (Heolddu Comp., Penallta ), Joshua Everettt (Croesyceilog , Cwmbran ), Dominic Franchi (Brynmawr Foundation , Abergavenny RFC ), Daniel Goode (Llanbarnam Comp , Cwmbran RFC ), Joshua Guy (King Hendry School V111, N/A), Andrew Hancock , Thomas Hicks (Heanor Gate , Derby), Aeron Hughes (Heolddu Comp. , Penallta, Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly County ), Robbie Hughes (Kings International , Reedoniani Weybridge, Surrey), James Johnson (Crickhowell High , Abergavenny ), Niall Martin (Llanarnam Comp., NHSOB), Luke Morgan ( Abergavenny ),
Gareth Price (Finham Park , Broadstreet ), Kyle Pyart (Llswerry High , Pill Harriers ), David Rossiter (Croesyceilog Comp , Cwmbran RFC ), Matt Sevenoaks (Monmouth, N/A), Thomas Shipp (Newbridge , Penallta Juniors ), Jonathan Stark (Croesyceilog , Cwmbran ),
Under 16 Development Squad
Scott Andrews (Bassaleg, Rogerstone), Jacob Bates (Charlton, Welsh Exiles), Ben Coles (Lewis Pengam, Penallta), Ben Cornwell (Wimleton, Welsh Exiles), Ethan Davies (Abersychan, Pontypool Utd), George Davies (Caerleon, NHSOB), Nathan Day ( Pontypool United), Elliot Dee (Newbridge Comprehensive, Penallta), Jack Dixson (Newbridge Comprehensive, Nelson RFC), Rhys Donovan (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymney, Rhymney RFC), Lewis Edwards (N/A, Abergavenny RFC), Rhys Everitt (Rhymney Comp, Rhymney RFC& Rhymney Valley), Joseph Franchi (Brynmawr Foundation, Abergavenny RFC), Patric Hurley (St Joshephs Rc, Pill Harriers), Conor Imms (Abersychan, Pontupool Unt), Rhys Jones (Croesyceilog, Cwmbran), Ryan Jones (St Albans, Pontypool United), Derryn Jones (Tredegar Comprehensive, Tredegar), Joel Kendal (Llantarham, NHSOB), Brandon Kent (West Mon , Cwmbran), Scott Matthews (Rhymney Comp, Penallta), William Oliver (St Martins, Caerphilly), Johnathan Rogers (Heathsida Weybridge, Reeds Weybridge), Ashley Smith (Tredegar Comprehensive, Rtb Ebbw Vale ),
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