May 21, 2026 - 190 views
Former England international Jon Callard will remain at the helm of RGC for the 2026/27 Super Rygbi Cymru season after overseeing an impressive first campaign in charge.
RGC confirmed Callard has committed to the club for another year following a season which saw the North Wales side finish fifth in the league and reach the SRC Plate Final.
RGC General Manager Alun Pritchard praised the impact Callard has made since arriving at Parc Eirias.
He said: “In his first season as RGC Head Coach, Jon has done an outstanding job. He has brought the squad together, created a real sense of unity, and implemented an exciting style of rugby where everyone is playing for each other and for the badge.
“The second half of the season in particular was exceptional, with a fantastic run to the Plate Final and a strong fifth-place finish in the league.
“With continued support, I’m confident Jon can keep developing this team and achieve even greater success. I’m really excited to see what next season brings.”
Callard said he was “absolutely delighted” to extend his stay with the North Wales club and praised both the players and supporters for helping make his decision an easy one.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the last year and the product we are developing to produce players for the future,” he said.
“To finish fifth in the league and reach the final of the Plate competition was a massive testament to the hard work and commitment shown by everyone involved throughout the season.
“The players have been an absolute joy to work with, and the rugby they have produced has been both rewarding and exciting to watch develop over the course of the year.”
Callard also revealed the club is now focusing heavily on recruitment and retention, with plans aimed at keeping talented young players in North Wales by combining rugby opportunities with local employment and long-term career prospects.
The 60-year-old brings a wealth of elite-level experience to the role. As a player, Callard enjoyed a distinguished career with Bath Rugby during one of the club’s most successful eras, making more than 200 appearances and scoring more than 2,000 points. He won five England caps between 1993 and 1995 and was part of the England squad at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Widely regarded as one of the most reliable goal-kickers of his generation, Callard famously scored all 19 points in Bath’s historic 1998 Heineken Cup final victory over Brive — the first time an English club had won Europe’s top competition.
Before joining Bath in 1989, he played for Newport RFC and also combined rugby with teaching during the amateur era, working as a PE teacher at Downside School in Somerset.
Since retiring, Callard has built an extensive coaching career, including spells with Bath, Leeds Tykes and the Rugby Football Union, where he worked with England Under-21s, England Saxons and as a specialist kicking coach.
RGC will now look to build on the momentum generated during Callard’s first season as preparations continue for the new SRC campaign, with the club promising further announcements on recruitment and pre-season fixtures in the coming months.
