NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have confirmed that head coach Kingsley Jones will be calling the shots at Rodney Parade next season.

The former Wales captain has been holding the reins since director of rugby Lyn Jones left the region last month after a disappointing campaign in which they finished 10th in the Guinness Pro12 with just the Italian pair of Zebre and Treviso beneath them.

The Dragons have decided to move away from the director of rugby model – something that Cardiff Blues did to great effect this season under Danny Wilson – with Kingsley Jones set to appoint fresh blood to his management team.

He is currently assisted by elite performance director Huw Bevan, backs coach Shaun Connor and part-time scrum coach Bruce Douglas.

The former Ebbw Vale flanker, who has a year remaining on his current deal, is relishing the chance to take the hotseat and help a side who showed flashes of their potential with a second successive European Challenge Cup semi-final put the disappointment of 2015/16 behind them.

“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the region,” said Jones, who has previously coached Doncaster, Sale and Russia.

“I am very proud of the fact that I was born and bred in this passionate rugby area and it means a huge amount to me to be given this responsibility.

“Despite the frustrations of this season I have no doubt about the potential and ability within the squad and I am looking forward to the new season with excitement and enthusiasm.”

“Kingsley is highly respected by this group of players, his coaching peers in Wales and the wider rugby fraternity and we absolutely feel that he is the right man to take charge of the team,” said chief executive Stuart Davies.

“His appointment as head coach though, rather than director of rugby, means that we will be reviewing the roles and responsibilities of the wider management team, whilst Kingsley and I will also discuss bolstering the coaching team to add further support, skills and experience.”