Ritaz joins the Region
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. He said:
“I’m very much enjoying being at the Dragons and look forward to the challenge over the next two years and hopefully beyond. 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.”
Stephen 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 U21s. 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.”
Stephen aims to deliver a varied strength and conditioning programme to the players throughout the season. He said:
“The squad have noticed a change my own motivational approach to training and have responded admirably.
“I’ve introduced as much variety as possible in the preseason training and have have been pleased with the efforts and the feedback from training sessions at Merthyr Mawr and Rhondda forestry so far. Our main objective during the first six weeks phase has been to gain as much muscle mass as possible and after testing this proved a great success across the board.
“Next up, we travel to Belfast for a five-day camp in August before our first preseason warm-up game against Bedford away from home. The players should find the week of training invaluable and will benefit from the Northern Ireland culture and the change of environment.
“The players work ethic here to date has been tremendous and there has been a great team spirit right from the first day of preseason training which I’m confident will boost the squad ahead of the season.”
