Huw Bevan is to leave his post as the England cricket team’s strength and conditioning coach to take on the role of elite performance manager at the Newport Gwent Dragons, the Welsh rugby club announced Wednesday.
Bevan, a former hooker with Bridgend, Cardiff and Swansea joined the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2009 and was handed the role of strength and conditioning coach soon afterwards.
On his recent appointment, Bevan said: “I’m very pleased to be involved at an extremely exciting time for the Dragons. We have a fantastic new training facility and excellent staff who are ambitious and share my commitment to improving our performance.
Director of rugby Lyn Jones added: “We have a vision and ambition to be the best, raising standards and changing behaviour will be key.
“Appointing someone of Huw Bevan’s capabilities is a serious statement from us, that we will do more than talk about it.
“During our time together in shaping the start of Ospreys rugby, I was impressed with Huw’s innovation, organisation and work ethic. These qualities were reflected successfully with England cricket.
“Huw’s appointment as ‘elite performance manager’, underpins the long term vision for Gwent rugby.”