Bernard Jackman named Newport Gwent Dragons head coach
Monday 12 June 2017 15:49, UK
Former Ireland international Bernard Jackman has been appointed as the new head coach of Newport Gwent Dragons.
Jackman succeeds Kingsley Jones, who has been appointed to head up the Welsh Rugby Union's exiles programme.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will assume operational control of the Dragons and their stadium Rodney Parade on July 1 after Newport RFC shareholders voted through highly publicised plans last month.
A review of the coaching set up at the Dragons was undertaken by Stuart Davies and Martyn Phillips and involved Geraint John, Head of Professional Rugby at the WRU and Wales and British & Irish Lions head coach, Warren Gatland.
Gatland coached Jackman while at Connacht in the 1990s and recommended his former player for the role.
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"Bernard is an ideal fit for the Dragons and I know he will work diligently and exhaustively to ensure that the set-up both on and off the pitch at Rodney Parade is of the very highest quality," said Gatland.
"He will be a huge asset to the region, he will create the right environment to allow a talented group to become even better players at the Dragons and he is someone in whom the supporters will find they can put their trust as he will work tirelessly in his pursuit of success."
Jackman has been out of work since leaving Grenoble in March 2017 and he is looking forward to beginning a new challenge in Wales.
"It is a huge honour for me to be joining the Dragons at such an exciting time in their history," said Jackman. "The region is a hot bed of Welsh rugby and to join at such a significant moment in time is a challenge I relish.
"We are obviously at the beginning of a major period of transition off the pitch, but on it we will need to quickly get down to work and reward the faith and obvious passion of our supporters throughout the region."
