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Meet The Team

One of the main reasons for the long-term success of our Community Department is the way they operate so smoothly as a team and by building quality working relationships with partners and key community agencies.

Mike Sage is the Community Manager who organises the whole department with great effect and whose enthusiasm and spirit drives the community on.

Karen Burgess joins our Community team as Inclusion Officer to deliver and grow Inclusion provisions to breakdown any barriers to participation. 

Steve Lewis joins our Community Department as our Community Officer to deliver our ever-growing Gateway Rugby project to inspire our youngsters.

Tygan Pinch has become our Community Officer to deliver our ever-growing Gateway Rugby project to inspire our youngsters.

Caitlin Rees works as our Inclusion Officer to deliver and grow our inclusion provisions to breakdown any barriers to participation.

Kurtis Haile works as a Community Officer for Dragons RFC and works with the Gateway programme.

Morgan Steed works as Inclusion Ambassador and works closely with Karen Burgess and is a shining light that brings enthusiasm and vibrancy to every session he supports.

 

Meet the Dragons RFC Community Team... 

Mike Sage – Community Manager

Mike is a qualified Secondary Physical Education teacher, a WRU Level 3 rugby coach and has vast managerial experience which helps him run the community department like a well-oiled ship.

Mike was the first development officer that was employed here at Rodney Parade in 1999 and he was made manager in 2001. He has successfully seen the evolution of the department using his sharp eye for detail and planning.

Mike leads by example to maintain their current successes and he ensures the team keeps at the cutting edge of community development. Mike has a young family and is a keen sportsman himself who gained International/County honours at both rugby and cricket in his younger years before moving on to have a productive semi-professional rugby playing career. He has also had successful spells as both a rugby coach and team manager at the semi-pro level; hence, he has a huge amount of experience and sporting knowledge.

Karen Burgess - Community Inclusion Officer

Karen joins our Community Team as our Inclusion Officer and comes with a wealth of experience in the leisure industry.

Karen adds real value to the team, especially with her knowledge and passion in the Inclusion, Mental Health and Early Intervention space.

She is making a positive impact and impression on participants across many of our provisions and is looking forward to taking our Inclusion work to another level. Watch this space.

Steve Lewis – Community Officer

We are excited to introduce and welcome Steve Lewis to our Dragons Family, as the newest member of our growing Community team.

Steve joins our team, bringing vast experience, having worked with children through various sports for over 20 years and with over seven years’ experience, working in the Sports & Education Industry, delivering in schools, on skills camps and extra-curricular activities.

He is looking forward to delivering fun and inspiring Tony Brown Gateway Rugby sessions to get the children hooked on sport, whilst growing our Dragons Family.

His passion for sport and coaching started at an early age through, rugby, cricket, and football, gaining County honours along the way.

Steve is looking forward to bringing his experience to the community department and is relishing working with his Gateway schools as he loves getting children of all abilities active, learning new skills, and building their confidence.

Tygan Pinch – Community Officer

We are delighted to introduce and welcome Tygan Pinch to our Dragons Family, as the newest member of our growing Community team.

Tygan joins us at this exciting time at Dragons Rugby to deliver inspiration through our ever-expanding Tony Brown Gateway Rugby project, which motivates primary school pupils throughout our catchment area using rugby as the catalyst to promote health and wellbeing. Her role will also encompass supporting our match day community experience, delivering our holiday skills camps, and adding value to our inclusion and outreach work.

She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the rugby industry from having international honours, representing the Dragons Women’s rugby team, completing the Welsh Rugby Union Apprenticeship and many volunteer hours within our communities. Tygan was highly recommended by the WRU Apprenticeship team and we have witnessed her qualities first-hand during her volunteering work, where she has already made a positive impact and is looking forward to building on this early success.

Tygan brings youthful enthusiasm and experience to our department and is already inspiring the next generation.

Caitlin Rees  - Community Inclusion Officer

Caitlin has recently joined our Community department as our Inclusion Officer to bolster our Inclusion team to help grow and positively impact on our Dragons family.

We are delighted to welcome Caitlin to the department as she brings a range of experiences in all areas of inclusion. Caitlin was an apprentice for the Welsh Rugby Union in 2018 and has coached ever since across Wales.

Caitlin is very passionate about giving everyone an equal opportunity and believes that rugby is for all. Caitlin will be key in supporting and growing our Community and Inclusion provisions.

Kurtis Haile - Community Officer

Kurtis has recently joined our team since having helped about over the last year through our skills camps. Kurtis brings with him 10 years of coaching experience working a different number of roles within the Sporting industry.

Kurtis has been coaching at Abertillery RFC mini and junior section covering all their age groups. He’s a qualified WRU level 2 coach and has a real passion for coaching and the development of young players. He loves having the opportunity to help develop a player's skills, building friendly relationships and improving their overall confidence to participate in sport.

Kurtis is excited to bring his passion and experience to the community department and is looking forward to working with our schools in the Gateway programme.

Morgan Steed – Inclusion Ambassador

Since November 2022, Morgan has had a volunteering work placement with our community team, focusing on supporting Inclusion Officer, Karen Burgess and has left a positive footprint wherever he goes.

Morgan has gone from strength to strength and his confidence has skyrocketed, which led to him being awarded the Phylyp Butler Memorial Recognition Award at the Caerphilly CBC Sports Award 2023.

We are delighted to officially welcome Morgan into our Dragons Community team, as an ‘Inclusion Ambassador’ to continue his impact, as a shining light that brings enthusiasm and vibrancy to every session he supports.

Morgan is an inspiration to everyone within our Dragons Family, he works tirelessly to help people and make everyone feel supported and happy - he’s a superstar.

Morgan enjoys supporting our 50+ groups, Sporting Memories Wales and Re-Engage Wales provisions. Morgan refers to our members as his ‘Golden Oldies’.

Morgan has become a superb role model, when engaging at our Inclusive Community Clubs, ALN schools and at our Care Home settings.

Additionally, Morgan supports and plays for all three of our inclusion rugby provisions: Dragons Pheonix Walking Rugby Team, Dragons ALLSTARS Mixed Ability Team & Dragons Wheelchair Rugby Team.

 

Dragons Community Ambassadors

We have a very loyal band of Community Ambassadors - backed by Melin Homes - who support our community activation, especially around our Inclusion & match day provisions. We very much value the volunteering support, which allows us to maximise delivery and positive impact.

If you're interested in becoming a Dragons Community Ambassador, contact: Community Manager – mike.sage@dragonsrfc.wales.

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