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Jones eyes Dragons job
ESPNscrum Staff
February 19, 2011
Former Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones, April 6, 2008
Former Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones is "open to offers" © Getty Images
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Former Ospreys boss Lyn Jones has confirmed his interest in succeeding Paul Turner as Newport Gwent Dragons head coach.

Turner parted company with the Dragons earlier this month by "mutual consent" and assistant coach Darren Edwards has now been placed in charge until the end of the season.

Jones, who served as the region's attack coach for three months during the 2009-2010 season, is currently the director of rugby at British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi but has admitted that he would be interested in returning to Rodney Parade.

"We're always open to offers, aren't we? You never know what's round the corner," Jones told BBC Wales' Scrum V show. "It's very sad what's happened to Paul and it will be interesting to see which way Gwent want to take their future.

"Things are going well in the last couple of weeks for them and I'm sure they are looking at all options they have at the moment. "Maybe they will appoint from within; who knows what the plan is with Gwent rugby?

"They should be looking for a figurehead, someone experienced to come in. There are a bunch of young coaches there and young coaches can harm a team in many respects as they are learning their trade as they go on. You need to give young coaches a bit of time and space to grow up and to thrust that crowd into the fore I think would be a big mistake."

Former Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones has also been linked with the Dragons vacancy. He, too, is open to offers but revealed that his preference would be to join former Sharks colleague Philippe Saint-Andre at Toulon.

"If I'm honest I fancy the opportunity of going to Toulon," said Jones, who has agreed a short-term deal with the Russian national team. "Working with Philippe on the Mediterranean it's got a lot of positives. French rugby is absolutely fantastic at the moment, big crowds, arguably some of the best players in the world in that league.

"Philippe and I are very good mates, we've discussed little bits maybe of working with him again at some point but there's no offer on the table as such from Toulon yet. I'm not sure I'd want to jump in there at the moment anyway... I am genuinely sitting back at the moment."

Indeed, Jones was quick to play down speculation linking him with the Dragons job, though he did admit that he is keen on a return to Wales.

"Being totally honest it's something that's driven by the fact that I'm from Gwent, put two and two together and make 10," he told BBC Wales' Scrum V Radio programme. "I've said that possibly I could come back to Wales and people have automatically made that connection. It's sad for Paul.

"I would be interested in going to the Dragons but they've got Darren Edwards there who's been appointed until the end of the season, I've heard a lot of good things about him. So, it's not something I'm really looking at but I'd certainly be interested in anything in Wales."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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