The 38-year-old from Blaina is back at the region as Byron Hayward’s replacement, after the Wales Under-20 coach moved to the Scarlets’ to co-ordinate their defence. Connor has worked closely with Dragons’ Director of Rugby Lyn Jones at the Ospreys and Neath and will assist his former coach with the first-team backs.
Jones said: “I am delighted that Shaun has come on board as academy skills coach and I am keen to introduce him into some senior coaching as well when possible. He was very popular with the players in his first period with the region and then went away to work for the Union at the Ospreys.
“It’s great to have him back, he’s a good man and the right type of character to have here. Growing our own players is very important. With the new Rugby Services Agreement the shape of regional rugby is going to change dramatically and we need to get ready and restructure for the future.”
Connor played 29 times for the Dragons and then joined the management team as skills coach after hanging up his boots in 2010. The former pivot had already enjoyed a fruitful career under Jones either side of the inception of the professional game in Wales.
He turned out 47 times for Neath after spells with Ebbw Vale and Newport RFC. The 5ft 8in outside-half went on to become an Ospreys original and starred in the region’s historic 24-16 win over Australia.
He has since worked for the Welsh Rugby Union based at the Ospreys but has returned to take up a role at the region’s new Ystrad Mynach training base. Connor will work under Dragons academy boss James Chapron but will also lend a hand to director of rugby Lyn Jones, who has been operating without a specialist backs coach since Darren Edwards’ departure in February.
