With Craig Everett joining the Wales under-20 coaching team for the upcoming Six Nations campaign, former British and Irish Lions lock, Ian Evans, will fill his shoes at the Arms Park, linking up with Cardiff RFC over the coming weeks.

Academy coach Everett joins Shaun Connor and Richard Kelly as part of Byron Hayward’s backroom staff, with this year’s Championship set to kick off in less than two weeks.

The former Worcester back row arrived at the Arms Park in 2018 as a full time under-18 coach, but progressed into an academy role, where he now works alongside the likes of Gruff Rees, Dan Fish, Aled James and Alan Kingsley.

His role within the academy also incorporates coaching duties for Cardiff RFC, concentrating on the forwards in particular, with the Rags now aligned within the club’s pathway.

Meanwhile, former Ospreys and Wales second row Ian Evans has joined the Rags in Everett’s absence, and also heads up the under-16 North set-up for the season.

Having hung up his boots in 2017, the 33-times capped forward has gained coaching experience with roles at Treorchy RFC and Dragons and has already began his work with the Blue and Blacks.

Reacting to the news, Rees said: “First of all, we want to wish Craig the very best over the next few weeks. It will be brilliant experience for him.

“We’ve already seen how it can really benefit both the club and the coach with the likes of Gethin Jenkins and TRT having similar roles in recent seasons so we’re excited for Craggs.

“We’re proud of the way he’s developed as a coach over the last few years, first with the under-18 group and more recently with the academy and the Rags. He will no doubt bring a lot to the Wales under-20 group but will also be able to take a lot from the experience.

“It’s also great to welcome Ian Evans into the set-up. As a former Wales international, he has a wealth of top class experience to bring into the group but also has a great personality and bags of energy.

“It’s been great to see his input with Cardiff RFC to date, but his work with the under-16 north side will also be crucial. He’s already gained some valuable coaching experience so is a valuable addition while Craggs is with Wales under-20.”

Wales under-20 head coach Hayward added: “I’m very happy with the coaching group we have now got. We took our time in finalising it as it was important, we got the right people in.

“Craig Everett in terms of coaching would be considered inexperienced but he is coming in to do defence which is a massive role. Hopefully, I can help him out in that area with my past experiences and he is doing a great job in fairness. I’m really happy in what he is doing, he’s got the characteristics you need as a coach, a very high work ethic and a real desire to improve the players.

“For me it’s not just about being technically and tactically sound, it’s also about being good people as well and fitting in with the environment we want to create – so from that perspective I’m really happy.”