Dragons to unveil new boss Dean Ryan on three-year contract

The Rodney Parade region have chosen the former Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester coach to replace Bernard Jackman, who was sacked in December.

Ryan, who had a short-lived spell as the Dragons’ rugby consultant to assist Darren Edwards at the end of 2012, is currently head of international player development at the RFU.

The ex-England number eight has been tempted back to club management, signed a three-year deal at Rodney Parade and has handed in his notice at Twickenham.

Dragons chairman David Buttress stated his intention to make his choice before the Judgement Day finale against the Scarlets on April 27 with an announcement the following week.

“We’ve interviewed high calibre candidates for the role in what has been a rigorous process,” said Buttress on May 2.

“This isn’t a decision we wanted to rush and we haven’t done so, but what has impressed me is the quality of candidates we have spoken to and the potential they see at the Dragons for success.

“I understand supporters are keen to know who will fill the role, but whilst we want to keep supporters informed, we are making sure we get the appointment right and expect to make an announcement shortly.”

The issue has dragged on while thrashing out the details surrounding Ryan’s RFU exit but next week he will be finally be confirmed in the role and will press on with attempting to turn around the Dragons’ fortunes.

He will take over a region that hasn’t won more than a handful of Guinness PRO14 games for the last four seasons, winning four in 2015/16, four in 2016/17, two in 2017/18 and five this season.

The 52-year-old’s immediate task will be to evaluate the current backroom team and playing staff, although he won’t have too much room for manoeuvre.

Ceri Jones, who was part of Ryan’s coaching team at Worcester in 2013, will return to his role of forwards coach after holding the reins following Jackman’s dismissal.

The former prop was in charge of retention and recruitment for next season and the Dragons have pinpointed fly-half as an area of weakness with Ospreys and Wales playmaker Sam Davies their prime target.

A report in the Times last weekend said that Ryan “has a track record for starting new jobs, making a lot of noise and promises and then making a quick, unexpected exit” but the Dragons want him to be in for the long haul after having to bring Jackman’s spell to a premature ending halfway through his three-year deal.

Key to his responsibilities is making the most of the young talent on the books given the budgetary constraints with the Dragons having an eight-strong contingent at the World Rugby U20 Championship for the second year on the spin, a tally that would have been nine were it not for an injury to talented teenage flanker Taine Basham.

“We have to punch above our weight for developing local talent and retaining that talent,” said Buttress in December. “The new coach will have a strong track record of that.

“They will have to maximise the performance of our existing squad and have to be a great man manager, which is the case for a leader in any business.”

The appointment of Ryan will bring the coaching saga to an end, with the uncertainty over who would be the new boss leading to the Dragons extending their early bird deadline for season tickets to May 22.