PONTYPOOL have appointed Louie Tonkin as head coach to spearhead their bid for a return to the Principality Premiership.

The 31-year-old, who played for Pooler under Steve ‘Junna’ Jones in 2004/5, heads east from Carmarthen Quins.

The former lock has been with the Quins for the last two seasons, helping them finish second in the Premiership last year and sixth this term. He is also head of rugby at Cardiff University and is poised to coach the Crawshays WRU President's XV in their tour to Georgia in June.

Tonkin has now taken over the reins at Pontypool, who parted company with director of rugby Alun Carter in January.

“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to accept this role and am extremely excited about all of the opportunities this presents,” said Tonkin.

“Firstly, working with such a famous and traditional club in Pontypool is a great honour for me and after having enjoyed such a great experience as a player several years ago, I jumped at the opportunity to come back to the club.

“I am really excited about getting my hands dirty and working with two great coaches in Leighton Jones and Stuart Lawrence and also the great squad that is already in place.

“I am sure we can have a big season and ultimately achieve the club’s objective of regaining Premiership status.”

Pooler were demoted to the Swalec Championship in the summer of 2012 and under the stewardship of head coach Mike Hook and team manager Shaun Rees they finished 12th the following season and fourth in 2013/14.

Hook left for a role at Bridgend last summer – and joined forces with coach Paul Young to win the Swalec Cup with the Ravens last Sunday – and Carter took over as director of rugby.

He left at the start of the year and the club, who finished fifth this season, have opted to return to having the head coach pulling the strings.

Pooler chief executive Ben Jeffreys said: “We have spent five months patiently seeking a successful and methodical individual who possesses a strong value system that can instantly integrate with the positive culture that has been formed at the club over the past three seasons.

“We have most certainly found that person in Louie. He has perfectly aligned with our requirements and I am confident that his balance of enthusiasm and knowledge will enable Pooler to move closer towards achieving its key objective of returning to the Principality Premiership.”