Ex-Penallta youth player Dai Flanagan named new Dragons head coach

Cefn Hengoed’s Dai Flanagan has been named as the new head coach of the Dragons rugby region.

Flanagan, a former Penallta RFC youth player, joins the Newport-based Dragons from the Scarlets, where he has worked as a backs coach since 2019.

Flanagan also had a spell as interim head coach at the Scarlets last year.

During his playing career, the 36-year-old played fly-half for Cardiff Blues and later the Ospreys.

He also had spells at Pontypridd, where he spent a large chunk of his career, before finishing his playing days at Newport.

Flanagan said: “I’m excited to be joining Dragons and putting my mark on the team and how we play. I’m keen to build on the foundations that have been put in place and enhance and develop our performances.

“I started my career back at Newport High School, working with the likes of Leon Brown and Joe Davies in the Dragons Academy set-up, so it’s a fantastic prospect to come home to work with those boys again and help make them better.

“I’ve been involved with Scarlets for eight years in several roles, including heading up the coaching team when the opportunity arose, so I leave with memories of an unbelievable rugby journey.”

Dragons chairman David Buttress described Flanagan as “one of the most innovative coaching talents in Wales”.