Bournemouth Rugby Football Club
Club News
Dunn promotes star Connolly on to coaching staff
David Dunn believes the decision to promote Dan Connolly to the club’s management team will help Lions make the grade in National Two South.
The former Wales sevens international has been elevated to a player-coach position at Chapel Gate ahead of the start of the new season in September.
Connolly, who joined Bournemouth from Welsh outfit Pontypool, starred during Lions’ National Three South West title triumph last term.
He is again set to feature prominently for the newly-promoted team next term as they aim to prosper during the club’s first campaign in the fourth tier of English rugby.
And Dunn confirmed that Connolly was now set to lead the Lions backs both on and off the field after impressing enough to earn a place among the club’s backroom staff.
Director of rugby Dunn told the Daily Echo: “Dan is going to be a player-coach next season and he is going to coach the first XV back division.
“Tim Collier will again be the forwards coach, Dan will be taking care of the backs and I will be looking at the overall team play.
“Dan has got quite a good pedigree. He moved to Bournemouth to work for LV and he has previously played for the Wales sevens team.
“He also coached our team in the Bournemouth Sevens Festival this year.”
Connolly is likely to be a key part of Bournemouth’s plans in National Two South after establishing himself as a major player by scoring an eye-catching 22 tries in 32 league appearances for Bournemouth.
Dunn added: “He is a top player. He is a very intelligent player and he has earned the respect of the players out on the field.
“It is so important these days to get younger coaches onboard.
“He is a leader on the field and now he is going to develop as a coach off the field.”
Bournemouth are set to kick off their debut campaign in National Two South against Canterbury at Chapel Gate.
Lions have been handed a home game on September 1 in the provisional list of fixtures.
Like the Dorset outfit, Canterbury also won promotion last term after claiming their fifth-flight division title in similarly emphatic style.
In a tough first away game, Lions will travel to Worthing, before then hosting title rivals of last season Chinnor.
By Ian Wadley - Bournemouth Echo
Connolly, who joined Bournemouth from Welsh outfit Pontypool, starred during Lions’ National Three South West title triumph last term.
He is again set to feature prominently for the newly-promoted team next term as they aim to prosper during the club’s first campaign in the fourth tier of English rugby.
And Dunn confirmed that Connolly was now set to lead the Lions backs both on and off the field after impressing enough to earn a place among the club’s backroom staff.
Director of rugby Dunn told the Daily Echo: “Dan is going to be a player-coach next season and he is going to coach the first XV back division.
“Tim Collier will again be the forwards coach, Dan will be taking care of the backs and I will be looking at the overall team play.
“Dan has got quite a good pedigree. He moved to Bournemouth to work for LV and he has previously played for the Wales sevens team.
“He also coached our team in the Bournemouth Sevens Festival this year.”
Connolly is likely to be a key part of Bournemouth’s plans in National Two South after establishing himself as a major player by scoring an eye-catching 22 tries in 32 league appearances for Bournemouth.
Dunn added: “He is a top player. He is a very intelligent player and he has earned the respect of the players out on the field.
“It is so important these days to get younger coaches onboard.
“He is a leader on the field and now he is going to develop as a coach off the field.”
Bournemouth are set to kick off their debut campaign in National Two South against Canterbury at Chapel Gate.
Lions have been handed a home game on September 1 in the provisional list of fixtures.
Like the Dorset outfit, Canterbury also won promotion last term after claiming their fifth-flight division title in similarly emphatic style.
In a tough first away game, Lions will travel to Worthing, before then hosting title rivals of last season Chinnor.
By Ian Wadley - Bournemouth Echo
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