Skills role at Cross Keys for ex-Wales and Dragons centre

9:00am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Chris Kirwan

EXPERIENCED: Matthew J Watkins EXPERIENCED: Matthew J Watkins

CROSS Keys have appointed former Wales centre Matthew J Watkins as skills coach.

The 33-year-old ex-Newport, Scarlets, Gloucester and Dragons back, who was capped 18 times, retired at the end of the 2010/11 season.

Watkins, from Oakdale, is studying for his WRU level three coaching badge and will work under backs coach Mark Ring.

“It’s a good fit for both sides,” said head coach Greg Woods. “He is able to get his foot on the coaching ladder and we will benefit from a fresh pair of eyes.

“Last season was a massively successful one for us but it’s always good to move things forward.

“Matthew wants to learn off Ringo and I am sure the pair of them will bounce ideas off each other.

“Someone of his experience can only add to our environment and hopefully he can help us improve and have a real cutting edge.”

Keys start their Premiership campaign with a clash against champions Pontypridd at Pandy Park on Saturday.

Comments(10)

rhinestine says...
10:49am Wed 29 Aug 12

Exactly what skills MJ can teach is questionable to say the least...... best of luck in the new role anyway.

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high x boy says...
11:38am Wed 29 Aug 12

he was always offside

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LSB Bee says...
12:27pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Another rubbish appointment by the Dragons. There's nothing like quality and MJW is nothing like it.

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LSB Bee says...
12:30pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Another rubbish appointment (by Cross Keys!) There's nothing like quality and MJW is nothing like it.

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rhinestine says...
1:05pm Wed 29 Aug 12

MJ had his little stutter sidestep, and a rocket pass that went haywire most of the time.

He must pinch himself every day at the fact he won 18 caps, always looked out of his depth, but fair play to him, it's 18 more caps than me!!

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Welshman76 says...
2:11pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Sometimes players who were not that great make good coaches and good players can be bad coaches. There's proof in all sports! Typical of posters on here to be negative and have a dig at all the things going on locally! Give the lad a chance.

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Robert Shillabeer says...
3:26pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Welshman76 is right about the pitiful postings on this site, they are always anti everything. Mathew Watkins has done rather more than most people who bother to post, he cut ally played for Wales and Newport, the Scarlets, Gloucester and the Dragons so not a bad history. He is now becoming a coach so good luck to him, perhaps he will prove to be very good at it given time to learn from others. Perhaps someone could tell me is there anyone in Newport and district with anything nice to say about anyone involved with rugby in Gwent?

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broadsworddan says...
4:45pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Yeah rob. plenty. They just don't bother putting their oars in with the plonkers on these sites. Thank god the negativity in these posts only represents a small percentage of real peoples thoughts.

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ManofGwent8 says...
4:47pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Without commenting on MJW's quality as a player/coach isn't he also employed by the Ospreys?!

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Robert Shillabeer says...
9:12pm Wed 29 Aug 12

Nothing on the Ospreys website about Mathew Watkins are you mixing him up with Kevin Morgan?

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