Tiatia 'enjoying' Dragons role as region outlines head coach plan

Filo Tiatia has worked as forwards and assistant coach with Japan's national side

Dragons are ready to keep Filo Tiatia in their head coach role until the end of the season.

The former All Black was brought in as defence coach in May and promoted to the top job when Dai Flanagan left the region last month.

Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg says the region intends to keep Tiatia in the post.

Speaking ahead of the 26 December derby with Cardiff, Tiatia did not want to comment on his future, but did admit he was enjoying the role.

"My role is interim head coach and I will continue doing the best I can with the group. I'm enjoying sitting in the seat so it's OK," he said.

"I've signed a contract here for three years as a defence coach and I'm going to honour that - until there's a few chances and then we'll have more conversations on that. That's where we're at."

Tiatia steered Dragons to only their second victory of the season in last weekend's 22-14 Challenge Cup win over Newcastle.

Speaking to the South Wales Argus, Blumberg said a decision over Tiatia's position would be made at the end of January.

"The intention is to try and keep Filo in post and make sure it works out for him," said Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg.

"He is capable and doing a good job. Both parties are working well together and it's been a good start."

Blumberg added Dragons are not actively seeking a new head coach to replace Flanagan, but would be ready if the former Ospreys back rower Tiatia did not want to continue in the role.

"It will either be that Filo is in position as head coach for the next two years or that he is returning to being defence coach, with X as head coach after we have made an offer and had it agreed," he said.

Tiatia, 53, was not drawn on whether he would be interested staying as head coach, but said: "I'm learning as we go; these young men are growing and are surprising me in a lot of ways.

"Their motivation becomes mine because I really want them to succeed as well. We just have to take it day by day, keep learning."

Tiatia will next lead the side when they take on east Wales rivals Cardiff next Thursday in the United Rugby Championship [URC], with a bumper Rodney Parade crowd expected for a festive fixture the Dragons have not won in 10 years.

However, they will do so with injury problems at lock with Steve Cummins and George Nott both ruled out following head collisions in the win at Newcastle. Wales hooker Elliot Dee could return for the fixture.

"It was a scary moment with George, but he did well post-game and was walking around," he said. "We are following protocols and just making sure both athletes are safe to return.

"Cardiff are a good. We're really looking forward to it, we've watched them closely and it's a great opportunity for the players to represent the club really well."

Blumberg has also revealed more about the circumstances surrounding Flanagan's sudden departure, which was said to have been a mutual decision.

Blumberg said Flanagan "wanted a decision on his future" and had "applied a bit of pressure around what would happen for him".

"That almost made it a decision that had to be made quickly rather than wait for a bit longer and review things," Blumberg added.

"The decision was also based on the fact that we didn't win enough games in the first block.

"There was definitely an improvement in performances with certain things going in the right direction, but the board wasn't content with the amount of wins."