News

Scarlets legend Phil John has joined RGC 1404 as player and set-piece coach.

The prop, who played 330 professional games for Llanelli and the Scarlets, will join up with former Scarlets team mate and coach Mark Jones, currently RGC 1404 head coach.

John coached the Scarlets set-piece for two seasons, has been Llanelli assistant coach for the past two seasons and has coached Scarlets age grade sides.

He said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coaching senior and age grade teams at the Scarlets and coaching Llanelli in the Premiership and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to coach with Mark Jones again.

“RGC have made great strides on and off the field recently and having spent some time in North Wales recently, I can’t wait to get involved.  I’m excited at the prospect of coaching at a high standard, and I also feel I still have something to add to the side if I get the chance to pull my boots on. Having helped out with an RGC U18s session recently, it’s clear there is no shortage of talent in North Wales, and many of those players will be senior players in two years’ time so that is certainly an area I will be keen to help develop.”

RGC 1404 head coach Mark Jones said, “Phil brings a huge amount of experience as a player having performed at the top end of European rugby and as a coach he has delivered technical and tactical coaching to age grade and senior players, with particular emphasis on the set-piece and defence.

“He will be in a position as player-coach to pass that experience on to a young and hungry group of players here at RGC. We have a very tight knit squad and knowing Phil well, he is the perfect fit to dovetail into our environment. I’m looking forward to working with Phil again and feel he will add huge value to young North Wales players looking to improve.”

North Wales Development Region General Manager Sion Jones added, “Phil is the important, final piece in the coaching jigsaw here. He has the expertise and knowledge to help RGC step up to the next level in their development and his personality fits well with the rest of the team. Not only has he experience of what it takes to reach the top of the European game as a player but he is a proven coach with players of all ages. ”

 Kevin George, Scarlets academy manager and Llanelli RFC Head of Rugby said, “This opportunity for Phil to develop his coaching career under Mark Jones is exactly what he needs as he grows as a coach. Phil has coached throughout the Scarlets coaching pyramid, firstly mentoring front row players then moving onto the age grade programme where he coached the U16s and U18s, and as Llanelli defence coach for the past two years. We wish Phil the all the best in his new post.”