Cefn Hengoed’s Dai Flanagan lands new job at English rugby giants

Former Dragons RFC head coach Dai Flanagan has been appointed attack coach at English Premiership Rugby side Saracens.

Flanagan, 39, heads to north London following his departure from the Newport-based Dragons last autumn.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Saracens, a club I have admired and followed for a long time.

“The opportunity to come and work in the English Premiership alongside a talented and driven coaching and playing squad is incredibly exciting.

“This is a great opportunity for me to continue my coaching journey and work at an ambitious club that are looking to build on that successful legacy in the seasons to come.”

Flanagan said he “cannot wait to get started” and help his new side “develop and play a brand of rugby that will excite our supporters”.

A former Penallta RFC youth player, Flanagan was first appointed Dragons head coach in June 2022.

He joined having previously worked as a backs coach with the Scarlets, a team he had a brief spell as interim head coach with in 2021.

During his playing career, he 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.

Saracens’ director of rugby, ex-Ireland international Mark McCall, said: “We are delighted Dai has agreed to join our coaching team. Everyone who has previously worked with him spoke highly of his ability to bring the best out of people and in the conversations we had with him we were blown away by his rugby intellect and his obvious human qualities.

“Dai will bring a new perspective, new ideas and we believe will take our attack to the next level.”

Flanagan will be working alongside Wales internationals Nick Tompkins and Rhys Carre at his new club, as well as the likes of England stars Jamie George, Ben Earl, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, and current Lions captain Maro Itoje.