Leinster raid Cardiff to bolster Leo Cullen's staff

Leo Cullen’s Leinster have recruited Cardiff’s Gafyn Cooper to succeed Ronan O’Donnell as their team operations manager. It was August 1 when the Irish province advertised the vacancy, a recruitment opening that had O’Donnell taking to LinkedIn to explain why he was leaving.

“That’s all she wrote. After 20 years, it’s time for a change and for me to move on from Leinster. It was a privilege to have a front row seat for many of the greatest days in the club’s history, from Croke Park and Edinburgh in ’09 to the historic PRO14/United Rugby Championship and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) Champions Cup double in 2018.

“A special thanks to all the players, coaches and staff over the last 20 years, it was a pleasure to be involved on some small level. I’m going to take a small break before deciding where or what the next adventure is. In the meantime, if anyone would like to connect or discuss potential opportunities, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Leinster’s search to find O’Donnell’s successor has now ended in Cardiff where Cooper, the Welsh region’s long-serving operations manager, will hand over his role to Chris Dicomidis when he moves to Dublin. A statement read: “Chris Dicomidis will return to Cardiff as team manager after long-serving rugby operations manager Gafyn Cooper accepted an opportunity to join Leinster.

“Cooper, who has been with the club since 2006, and is in his 13th season in the current role, will become team operations manager at the Irish province in the new year. An extensive handover period will now begin with former player Dicomidis working alongside Cooper.

“Dicomidis is currently Pontypridd head coach and the Welsh Rugby Player Association’s professional development manager at Cardiff. He previously spent three seasons at the Arms Park, making 23 appearances, and hung up his boots earlier this year following a hugely successful semi-professional career, in which he amassed more than 400 appearances for Pontypridd.”

Cooper, who was a Cardiff youth team captain, said: “The decision to leave Cardiff has been one of the hardest decisions I have made, both on a professional and personal level. My association with Cardiff stems back to 1994, and I have been proud to represent the club as a youth player and in the roles I have held across the academy, Premiership and the professional team since 2006.

“I would like to thank the countless players, back room and administration staff, board members and coaching staff that I have worked alongside, for the help and support they have given me throughout my tenure at the club. I wish the club every success in the future.

“I am hugely excited to be joining Leinster as team operations manager and working alongside the staff and players of such a successful club.”

Dicomidis added: “I’m really grateful to Pontypridd, who allowed me the opportunity to become head coach this year but the chance to move back into the professional game is too good to pass up.”

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: “We are very sad to see Gafyn leave Cardiff. He is a big part of the club and has done so much behind the scenes over the years. I know it was a tough decision for him as he is a passionate Cardiff man.

“However, we understand it is an exciting opportunity for Gafyn and his wife Dee to gain a new experience and for him to work at Leinster. We wish him all the best and he will always be welcome back at his club Cardiff.

“Chris was an obvious replacement. He is a really good person, knows the environment, has good relationships with staff and players and has a connection with the club. Gafyn and Chris will now work together for a significant handover period to ensure there is a smooth transition.”