Dan Baugh is returning to Wales to become Dean Ryan’s fitness chief at the Dragons.
Recruiting the cult figure is another piece in the jigsaw of former England back-row forward Ryan.
It’s a case of one notorious rugby hardman in Cardiff RFC, Blues and Canada legend Baugh teaming up with another no-nonsense bruiser at the ambitious WRU-owned Gwent region.
Vastly experienced former Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester Warriors head coach Ryan replaced ex-Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman at the Dragons during the summer recess.
They are Wales’ most successful region in this season’s European Challenge Cup, being top of Pool One following notable victories over recent French champions Castres and Ryan’s former club Worcester.
And they’re the country’s best performers in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 ahead of Saturday’s big east-west Welsh derby with the Scarlets at Newport’s Rodney Parade.
During a seven-year stint with Cardiff and the Blues, Baugh earned hero status as a ferocious competitor who went above and beyond every time he crossed the white line.
“It’s just a reputation, the longer I was out of the game, the harder I got,” said Baugh in a recent fascinating interview on his career with WalesOnline. You can read it here.
Chronic knee problems forced 27-times capped international Baugh into retirement 14 years ago and he became fitness chief with the Blues under the command of then director of rugby Dai Young, before becoming forwards coach in 2007.
Four years later he took up a permanent role as a conditioning coach with Wales, leaving to join former Wales dual-code captain Young at English club Wasps in 2014.
Baugh, who still calls Cardiff home, will leave Coventry-based Wasps at the end of the Gallagher Premiership campaign to take up a lead fitness role with the Dragons, whose current head of strength and conditioning, Ryan Harris, is reported to be staying on.
