Connor Joins Dragons Backroom Staff

New Backroom Appointments

Shaun Connor has been added to the Dragons’ backroom staff for the 2026‑2027 campaign. The 50‑year‑old former Dragons and Ospreys fly‑half will serve as the kicking and skills consultant at Rodney Parade. In parallel, Simon Church returns to the region as a strength and conditioning coach after a recent stint at the Ospreys.

Both appointments bring seasoned experience to the Colts’ setup. Connor’s work includes a spell as academy coach for the Dragons and a stint as an assistant to Lyn Jones with Russia during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Church previously spent five seasons with the Dragons and most recently held the head of physical performance role at the Ospreys.

Connor’s Coaching Background

Beyond his new role, Connor’s résumé also features three years on Wales’ women’s coaching staff. He joined that set‑up before the 2022 Rugby World Cup and left after the 2025 tournament concluded. His earlier involvement extends to Wales Under‑20s, where he contributed to player development programs.

The former fly‑half’s time as an academy coach at the Dragons provided a foundation for his upcoming consultant duties. Having also coached the Russian side, he brings a range of tactical insight to Rodney Parade. The club hopes his breadth of experience will help sharpen the back‑line techniques of the new squad.

Church Returns to Regional Rugby

Simon Church’s return adds a focused dimension to the Dragons’ conditioning programme. After serving as head of physical performance at the Ospreys, he now aims to replicate the success he enjoyed during five previous seasons with the Dragons. His familiarity with the region’s playing style is expected to complement the technical work introduced by Connor.

Both hires reflect a strategic push to reinforce both skill sets and physical robustness for the forthcoming season. The combination of coaching depth and conditioning expertise is intended to elevate the Dragons’ performance levels across the board. Fans anticipate that the strengthened backroom team will make a noticeable impact on the field.