Newport Gwent Dragons have appointed Dean Ryan as a rugby consultant for the region.
The Welsh club opened their season's Amlin Challenge Cup tournament account with a 33-0 victory at Rugby Mogliano and face the Italian club at Rodney Parade on Sunday in the Round 4 return tie.
And ahead of that contest they have announced that Ryan, the former England back row forward who is widely experienced, having played in the English Premiership with Saracens, London Wasps, Newcastle Falcons and Bristol Shoguns, will be coming on board.
Ryan made 16 Challenge Cup appearances between 1997 and 2001 for the Falcons and then Shoguns.
His coaching career saw him hold the reins at Gloucester Rugby for five years before moving into consultancy alongside his media career as a Sky Sports analyst.
Dragons Chief Executive Chris Brown said: "We have a talented coaching team at Rodney Parade and the addition of Dean's expertise will only add to the quality we are looking to build on here at the Dragons.
"His experience of top flight rugby puts him in a position to offer support to our coaches and management. We are delighted to have him on board."
