Lyn Jones leaves Dragons due to illness

4:35 PM GMT

Newport Gwent Dragons director of rugby Lyn Jones has left the region with immediate effect, due to illness.

The Dragons have confirmed that head coach Kingsley Jones will take charge of the club until the end of the season.

Jones, who joined the Dragons in 2013 from London Welsh, has spent the past two weeks away from Rodney Parade.

"With the club transitioning into a new era of potentially new ownership and new investors, the time felt right for me to step aside," Jones told the Dragons website.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years at the Dragons.

"At the Dragons, we are seeing the emergence of an exciting generation of youngsters that can give the club a fighting chance of securing a place at the very top end of the game.

"I'm really proud to have played a part in this process. It's been immensely rewarding and I hope that it'll become the enduring legacy of my time with the Dragons."

The Dragons, who revealed this month that they are seeking investment, are preparing for a European Challenge Cup semifinal this weekend against Montpellier.

Despite that, chief executive Stuart Davies said the club's end-of-season review was brought forward due to Jones' ill health.

"As a result of Lyn's absence from work, we brought forward the end of season review," Davies said.

"Whilst a frustrating and disappointing season is mitigated by a lengthy injury list and a record number of narrow defeats resulting in losing bonus points, both parties agreed it was best for the side that there was a new voice at the helm going forward.

"Taking the decision now affords head coach Kingsley Jones the opportunity to look after the side for the remaining games, ahead of us considering our options for next season."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Lyn Jones leaves Dragons due to illness