FORMER Dragons fly-half Angus O’Brien has gone back to his roots by joining Caerleon’s coaching team.

The 24-year-old, who left Rodney Parade for the Scarlets last summer, will be attack coach as part of a management team shake-up after the departure of head coach Nigel Smith.

Jon Burgess will be calling the shots, Wales Deaf international Adam Brake will be forwards coach, Chris Macey will be in charge of defence and playmaker O’Brien will attempt to help provide a cutting edge in Division Two East.

O’Brien played for Caerleon as a youngster, following in the footsteps of his older brother Matt, Newport’s fly-half and Dragons academy head coach.

Now he will be helping the club, and his younger brother Loui, the firsts’ fly-half, from the sidelines.

“I have found myself down there quite a lot watching them play on Saturdays so I am happy to help out as much as I can,” said O’Brien.

“Hopefully it will fit in with my commitments at the Scarlets and I can help the club have a good season in a competitive league, offering as much advice as I can to the players.

“There are already three great coaches here, so it’s excited to work with them and also learn from them.”

For Burgess it’s a significant boost as he takes the baton from stalwart Smith.

“Everyone’s very excited - me in particular because I’m going to be working alongside a really motivated group of coaches and players in my first season as head coach,” he said.

“It’s an honour to have represented, captained and coached Caerleon. The fact that a top-class professional player like Angus wants to get involved is a significant boost for us.”

O’Brien hopes to help Caerleon enjoy a strong 2019/20 and intends to have a busy schedule, fitting in coaching commitments with on-field demands.

He endured a nightmare first campaign out west after rupturing knee ligaments in his first Scarlets start, a Champions Cup showdown with Racing 92 in Llanelli.

It meant that O’Brien, who made 70 appearances for the Dragons between 2014 and 2018, missed the rest of the season.

“I could tell as soon as it happened that it was serious,” said the fly-half, who has been given the all-clear by his surgeon.

“It meant it was a frustrating season but that’s sport and I am looking forward to getting started again. I’ll be going into pre-season fully fit and confident and I can’t wait to get going and show what I can do.”