Pontypool RFC is pleased to welcome former Pontypool RFC scrum-half Lewis Roberts back to the club as Rugby Operations Manager.
The newly created role will replace the team manager and club secretary roles, which have been vacant since the departures of Gareth Rusby-Davies and Jamie Hallam, with a focus on further developing the club’s rugby operations.
The 33-year-old came through the ranks at Pontypool United RFC before enjoying spells at Newbridge RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC.
He came to Pontypool Park and featured against the Steelmen as well as Blackwood RFC and Cardiff Met RFC before retiring as a player and heading back to Eugene Cross Park as a strength and conditioning coach. He switched his role to skills and back coach before leaving in November last year.
He is currently pathway manager at the Dragons, looking after the 15 to 18 pathway within the academy, and Roberts believes he can transfer his skills from that role to help Pontypool.
“Leighton called me and asked if I’d be interested in having a chat about the Rugby Operations Manager role,” he explained.
“The role is similar to what I do with my day job so it’s one I’m comfortable doing.
“Pontypool is a club that has clear aims and objectives and after speaking to Leighton and him outlining what the role would be it was an exciting opportunity to get involved in.”
Roberts, who moved to Pontypool when he was eight-years-old, believes that the club already has strong relations with the region academy through the good work of Leighton.
“There is already a clear link with Leighton Jones and Dai Rees, the head of academy,” explained Roberts.
“Zak Roberts has made his debut this year from the academy and there are other boys who have come through our U18s pathway as well.
“Such as Sam Scarfe, who is a product of the Penallta RFC and the Dragons Academy, who has represented the club extremely well in his first year of senior rugby.”
Looking ahead to next season Roberts commented: “It is a great privilege to be involved with Pontypool RFC for next season.
“I look forward to working with Leighton, coaches, players and management to ensure that the team is in the best possible position to push for promotion and complete its ambition of returning to the Indigo Premiership.”
