Welsh Premiership: Pontypridd coaches step down after Newport defeat

Chris Dicomidis made his 400th Pontypridd appearance against Pontypool in January

The Pontypridd coaches and management team have decided to step down after a heavy 45-10 Welsh Premiership home defeat against Newport.

Coaches Lee Davies, Geraint Lewis, Gareth Wyatt and team manager Dan Godfrey have left the club with immediate effect.

Lock Chris Dicomidis has been appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the season

Dicomidis will be assisted by Garyn Smith and Kristian Parker.

Pontypridd are seventh in the Welsh Premiership table and have decided not to apply for the Welsh Rugby Union’s new Elite Domestic Competition (EDC).

The new league will replace the Welsh Premiership next season with nine sides already confirmed to compete with one further space open.

A Pontypridd RFC statement said: “We would like to thank our supporters and sponsors for their patience during what has been an unsettling time moving into a transitional period for the club, and one which has understandably caused a lot of debate.

“The directors and chief executive have had to make some very difficult decisions, however these have been made in Pontypridd RFC’s best interests and to ensure that we remain financially viable.”