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Dings sign Hopkins By John White Dings Crusaders have signed former Osprey’s Director of Rugby Kevin Hopkins as their new backs coach. Hopkins will team up with former Scotland, Bristol and Bath prop David Hilton, who steps up from his role as the clubs forwards coach into the head coaches hot seat after former supremeo James Farndon stepped down from the post after just one season at the helm of the National League Two South club due to other rugby commitment. Farndon is currently the England Students backs coach and Bristol University head coach. He also has a ‘day job’ working for the RFU as Bristol’s RDO (Rugby Development Officer) and it was felt that he was spreading his resources to each of his projects too thinly, which forced him to give up one of his coaching roles. Hilton, whose career has turned full circle since he re-joined his boy-hood club Dings as their forwards coach at the start of last season, is looking forward to the new challenge associated with being head coach at the club he grew up with. He said: “I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to head the coaching team at Dings Crusaders. The powers that be have shown great faith in me by giving me the chance to put something back into the club as the head coach and I’m looking forward to working closely with Kevin. “We are many people’s favorites to be relegated next season and we have already been written off by certain people. But the fact that we have recruited a coach with Kevin’s credentials goes to show that we are not prepared to stand still. We know its going to be tough next season but we’re working hard behind the scene’s to make sure we’re more competitive - especially away from home. Hopkins arrives primarily as a backs coach but will also work with Hilton to set about constructing attacking strategies. But Hopkins was quick to rule out a radical overhaul in the clubs playing style. “Its about making small adjustments -tweaking areas here and there, he said. “We won’t change things over night nor should we try to. There’s no point in moving away from your teams traditional strengths just for the sake of it. It’s a matter of fine tuning and not making drastic changes.” Hopkins turned down several coaching opportunities in his native Wales in order to take up his new post with Crusaders and is relishing the chance to coach outside of the ‘land of his fathers’. He added: “I have always coached in Wales and I fancied trying my luck across the Severn in bridge in England. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and honesty of the Dings delegation from our first meeting and the club strikes me a one that is constantly looking to make progress.” Hopkins brings an impressive CV to Lanseer Avenue. He made seven appearances for Wales as a centre and played in the 1987 World Cup. He also racked up 178 games for Swansea. After retiring, he moved into coaching, taking charge of the backs at both Swansea and Ebbw Vale. He was also the head coach at Aberavon during which time he coached the Welsh under 21s side, taking them to two World Cups as well as a Grand Slam in 2003. He also looked after Wales ’A’ and the Welsh 7s squad and worked directly with current All Black coach Graham Henry while the kiwi labeled ’The Great Redeemer’ was in charge of the Welsh national side. In 2006 Hopkins was named as Director of Rugby at Welsh regional side the Ospreys. Hopkins is now currently employed at Pembrokeshire College as their Sports Academy Coaching Co-ordinator |
