A FORMER Haverfordwest man has landed a top job with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Geraint John has been appointed to the new role of WRU Elite Coach Development Manager.

John returns to Wales next month after 10 years’ experience working abroad, working first with Canada Rugby as High Performance Director and then Sevens Head Coach before joining the Australian Rugby Union as Director of Sevens in May 2014, heading up the men’s and women’s sevens set-ups and as head coach of the Qantas Australian Men's Sevens team.

John said: “I’m thrilled to have been chosen to take on this exciting new role. Having spent ten years away from Wales, I feel I have a huge amount to give back to Welsh rugby, developing the next generation of elite coaches for Wales.

“The ultimate goal of this role is to develop our top, up-and-coming coaches so that we have Welsh coaches who can coach Wales. I’ll be looking at our national age grade and pathway coaches, and working with coaches within the Regions and the Premiership, to see how we can help and support them. We also have some excellent Welsh coaches working outside of Wales so I’ll look to see how I can help and advise them too with the ultimate vision to help develop coaches who can step onto the international scene.

“Each coach is different, with different strengths and requirements, so my first role will be to create an affinity with them and a good relationship going forward.”

Back in the 1980s fly half John starred in Pembrokeshire teams who defeated Japan and USA under the then coach Trevor James, the latter who went on to be number two for Wales head coach Graham Henry.

In his playing days John regularly turned out for Cardiff RFC and represented Wales A, Wales B, the Barbarians, Crawshays and Welsh Schools.