CERI Jones is looking to rekindle his coaching relationship with Dean Ryan after missing out to him for the Dragons' top job.

Ryan was confirmed as the Rodney Parade region's director of rugby last week and will leave the RFU, where he is head of international player development, to take up the role on July 1.

Jones was interim head coach for the second half of the season after Bernard Jackman's sacking in December and will now return to his position in charge of the forwards.

The former prop started the transition towards life off-field under Ryan's stewardship at Worcester and is relishing the chance to learn from the ex-England number eight again.

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"Dean was the first person that got me into coaching funnily enough," said Jones, who headed to the Dragons from the Warriors in 2016.

"He gave me a scrum coach role and off the back of that gave me a transition forwards coach role with the A team up at Worcester.

"Alongside Sam Vesty, we got to the final of the A League where we lost to Saracens, so I had a good working relationship with Dean.

"That's something that I have to rekindle and it's all about making the region better – if David (Buttress, chairman) and the board see fit that appointing Dean will do that, then that's their job.

"I am from here and I am passionate about the region, it's about making the region better regardless of my role.

"Dean is a consummate professional and several of the things that I have done over the last three years (at the Dragons) have been taken from what he taught me.

"He knows the game inside out and is a very astute character as regards to his professionalism, his recruitment process and his general philosophy of the game.

"Truth be told we need as many good coaches around here as possible and Dean, with his vast experience, can only add to the group."

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Jones put himself forward for the top job and was interviewed by chairman Buttress.

The 41-year-old from Usk is philosophical about missing out to the more experienced Ryan.

"I always knew that this could well be the case, right back at the start. I didn't put my hat in the ring for several weeks because I was quite happy doing what I was doing," said Jones.

"We had some decent results and I really enjoyed the last six months – I learnt a huge amount about the squad and about myself.

"It has shown me what I think I can do personally and also what the squad can achieve. I want to be a part of that regardless of what shape that is in."

Jones ended with a record of three wins, a draw and 10 losses from his time at the helm.

He could not end the wait for a win on the road in the Guinness PRO14, which stretches back to March, 2015, but he did end a four-year derby drought by masterminding the success against the Ospreys in December.

Jones then signed off with the upset of the Scarlets at Principality Stadium, the Dragons' first Judgement Day win at the seventh time of asking.

"I am not usually a massive one for reflection but it has been a hugely enjoyable six months," said Jones.

"I am very close to the players and for them to achieve two big derby wins during my time was very special.

"We had some lows, don't get me wrong, but I will always look back at those wins and treasure them.

"To beat the Scarlets at Principality Stadium was really something special, as special as anything I achieved in my playing career.

"I have won two European shields with Harlequins, the Welsh Cup with Newport and did a huge amount as a player but that win at Judgement Day is a highlight along with winning the Premiership with Ebbw Vale.

"I look back at it with great joy and all I want is for us to have more of those occasions, and I truly believe this group of players can achieve that. I am very positive for the future of this region and it doesn't matter what my role is.

"This is where my heart is and I don't want to go off and do something else because I couldn't get the special feeling that we got at the stadium anywhere else."