Sussex college appoints Wales rugby stalwart and top Hong Kong official

John Green, headmaster of the college near Petworth, said: “Dai has an immense wealth of playing experience representing Swansea, Newport and Newbridge, as well as representing Wales at international level.

"From a coaching perspective, Dai was a lead coach at the Newport Gwent Dragons as well as being the Wales U20 and Wales U21 coach – with this experience Dai has coached numerous current and former international players. Most impressively, Dai was also Wales Sevens head coach, leading the side to immense success.

"Over the past few years, Dai has been in charge of the entire Hong Kong Rugby programme, which involved coaching the Hong Kong national side and receiving the Coaching Excellence Award and Best Team Sport Coach award at the Hong Kong Bank Foundation Coaching Awards presentation. I am delighted he has decided to leave his current position in Hong Kong to lead Seaford Rugby.”

Liam Doubler, Seaford’s Director of Sport, said: "Dai will be a fantastic addition to the Seaford sport team and the college. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in education, age grade rugby, professional rugby and business.

"His skills and expertise will support all students across our age 6 to 18 sporting pathway to be the best they can be on and off the field. It was very clear, whilst meeting Dai, that his coaching philosophy aligns with what we are trying to achieve within sport here at Seaford."

It is not the first time Rees has coached at Seaford, he ran rugby 7s training there in 2017, having kindly offered to do a coaching session on a trip back to the UK.

Rees will be joining an impressive coaching team and heads of sport group at Seaford.

Doubler said: "We now have top class heads of sport, leading the provision of all of our sports throughout the college. I am looking forward to working with all of the heads of sport to continue providing the best sporting provision and experience for all of our students.

"Sport plays a major part in the curricular, co-curricular and social life of the college. We truly believe that "development drives performance" and sport for all and performance sport can co-exist. Exciting times ahead."