Ex-Wales fly-half Turner steps down as Ampthill boss

Paul Turner spent most of his playing career in Wales with Newbridge, Pontypool and Newport

Former Wales fly-half Paul Turner is to step down as head coach of Ampthill at the end of the season after 14 years with the Championship club.

The 65-year-old, who won three international caps in the late 1980s, first joined Ampthill in a consultancy role in 2011 and became head coach in 2012-13.

He previously had coaching jobs with a series of clubs including Gloucester, Harlequins, Newport Gwent Dragons and Wasps.

Ampthill were in National Three Midlands when Turner arrived, but he steered them up to the second tier of the English game in 2019, and they are currently ninth in the Championship table.

"With a heavy heart, I have decided to end my role as head coach of this fantastic club. It has been an amazing 14 years," Turner said.

"I would particularly like to express my immense gratitude to director of rugby, Mark Lavery. He has provided me with terrific support and help in so many ways, without which our successes would not have been possible."

Turner will continue his rugby career as a consultant with Dragons.

A club statement said: "Without Paul Turner's leadership, recruitment and technical coaching ability, a club of Ampthill's size and resources would never have reached these heights."

And Lavery added: "The impact Paul has had on the club, the town and the district is absolutely incredible.

Paul Turner has taken The Mob on a miraculous journey and has demonstrated the great thing about rugby, that dreams do occasionally come true."

Ampthill play their next game at home to Nottingham on 22 March.