HEAD coach Leighton Jones has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him holding the reins at Pontypool until at least 2019.

The former hooker took over in the Pooler hotseat this summer after their disappointment at missing out on promotion to the revamped, ring-fenced Principality Premiership.

Jones has helped the club dust themselves down to build towards a return to the top flight in 2020 starting the WRU Championship campaign with a perfect 10 wins from 10 games.

“It has been an immense honour to represent Pontypool RFC as its head coach and to have the opportunity to continue on this journey for an additional two seasons fills both me and my family with enormous pride,” said Jones, who was forwards coach last season.

“I am pleased with the progress we have made in recent months and the incredible contributions made by our management, squad and volunteers means that we have a positive and united environment that will enable us to grow even further in the seasons to come.”

The ambitious Jones is also eyeing rugby development in the Pontypool area while they patiently wait for their chance to earn promotion in the 2019/20 season.

“We have not taken our eyes off the key objective to take Pontypool back to the Principality Premiership division, but this extended period of time in the National Championship has allowed us to take stock of the positive influence the club can have in building a true rugby community within Torfaen,” continued Jones.

“Pontypool is now taking a leading role in working with our neighbouring clubs to develop the future stars of Torfaen rugby, as well as creating a network of coaches to constantly build on our already sound rugby structures and strategies.

“This demonstrates that missing out on promotion to the Principality Premiership was the start of a new beginning for this club, so that when we are presented with the opportunity in the future, we will be better prepared than ever to compete for honours and will have the invaluable support of the Torfaen rugby community.”