Former Wales fly-half Matthew Jones has left his role as Pontypool player-coach to fill a similar post at Neath.
The move points to signs of life at the Welsh All Blacks after the most troubled season in their history, one that saw them beset by problems on and off the field, ending in relegation to the Swalec Championship.
Jones joined Pontypool in 2016, working as backs coach under Leighton Jones and continuing to play.
They have since proven all but unbeatable in the Championship, claiming three consecutive titles built on 65 wins from 66 matches. Pooler will go into 2019-20 on a run of 47 victories, an extraordinary sequence by any standard.
But the Maesteg product has decided to depart for the club he first played for as a teenager.
He will be part of a coaching team headed by Patrick Horgan, with Andrew Howell in charge of the forwards.
Jones said: “I would like to thank everyone at Pontypool for the opportunities over the last three wonderful years.
“Neath, my first senior club, is more convenient for me in terms of travel but both clubs are dear to my heart.
“They are both big clubs with proud pasts and hopefully proud futures. I am really looking forward to developing my coaching alongside my old half-back partner Pat, who is recognised as one of the most knowledgeable around.
“I can't wait to get to work with what will be a new-look Neath back division — this is both a challenge and a fantastic opportunity.
“Having experienced men like Aaron Bramwell and Nicky Griffiths around a group of keen and ambitious youngsters will be a big help and I am very excited to be part of Neath's re-build.
“We need to quickly make short-term improvements as, from my time at Pontypool, I know how difficult the Championship will be. Neath have a fantastic following of genuine rugby people who are realistic and we have high expectations.”
Jones will sit out the early games of the campaign after undergoing knee surgery towards the end of last season.
But Neath supporters will have fond memories of him.
In the first season of regional rugby, he scored 344 points for the club as they won the Welsh Cup for the fourth time and finished second to Newport in the Premiership.
The following season, Jones’s 52 points and astute game-control helped Wales Under-21s to a Grand Slam, completing their full house by beating Ireland at The Gnoll. He also featured regularly for the Ospreys in their first Celtic League title-winning campaign.
His one and only senior Wales cap arrived that summer when he featured in a 60-3 victory over Canada.
A bad knee injury cost him a spell on the sidelines onto the sidelines but a much-travelled career has since seen him enjoy stints with Moseley, London Welsh, Worcester, Bristol, Coventry as well as the Dragons and Pontypool.
For Neath, his arrival is good news after the traumas of 2018-19, when they had to fend off two winding-up orders and lost 29 out of 30 league games.
