Ritaz joins Dragons region
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:19
Newport Gwent Dragons have further strengthened their backroom team with the recruitment of Stephen Richards on a two-year contract with the region as strength and conditioning coach.
Stephen joins the Dragons from Ulster where he was fitness coach for two years and is pleased to be back in Wales coaching the region.
"I'm very much enjoying being at the Dragons and look forward to the challenge over the next two years and hopefully beyond," Richards said.
"I've enjoyed my coaching career and have been fortunate to work with some great people along the way but Wales is my home and I'm thrilled at the opportunity to be back here."
Richards has coached Treorchy, Neath, Pontypridd and the Celtic Warriors as well as Wales age grade and sevens teams before travelling to Ireland in 2006 to work with Ulster and Ireland Under-21.
He added: "Coaching in Wales and abroad has brought much experience my way and made me the strength and conditioning Coach I am here at the Dragons. I have coached some of the Dragons boys in the past such as Tal Selley, Shaun Connor, Gareth Wyatt, Richard Parks and Steven Jones and it's great to have the opportunity to coach them again for their region.
"I've also had the privilege of coaching alongside some of rugby's greatest coaches in Graham Henry and Andrew Hore with Wales and also Lynn Jones and Lynn Howells at Neath and Pontypridd.
"Working at the University of Ulster was a huge experience for me. In an environment with a variety of coaches from all different sports, I gained various experience and methods that can be transferred into the Dragons and the rugby environment."
