Bernard Jackman has been appointed as the new head coach of a Pro12 rugby side

Former Ireland Hooker Bernard Jackman has been appointed as the new head coach of Newport Gwent Dragons rugby side.

Jackman was previously head coach of Top 14 side Grenoble before he left the French side in March this year. He has also coached at Newbridge and Clontarf RFC. Jackman earned nine caps for his country and won the Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2009. The Carlow-man will take-over from Kingsley Jones as coach of the Dragons. https://twitter.com/bernardjackman/status/874269809088897024 “It is a huge honour for me to be joining the Dragons at such an exciting time in their history,” said Jackman. “The Region is a hot bed of Welsh rugby and to join at such a significant moment in time is a challenge I relish. I can’t wait to get started and look forward to meeting the playing squad and the backroom team," added the 41-year-old. “We are obviously at the beginning of a major period of transition off the pitch, but on it, we will need to quickly get down to work and reward the faith and obvious passion of our supporters throughout the region," said Jackman. A review of the coaching set up at the Dragons involved Lions coach Warren Gatland, and he spoke highly of his former player. "Bernard is an ideal fit for the Dragons and I know he will be work diligently and exhaustively to ensure that the set-up both on and off the pitch at Rodney Parade is of the very highest quality," said Gatland "He will be a huge asset to the region, he will create the right environment to allow a talented group to become even better players at the Dragons and he is someone in whom the supporters will find they can put their trust as he will work tirelessly in his pursuit of success," added the Welsh man." Jackman will begin his role next week.