Justin Burnell has been appointed head coach at Pontypridd in succession to Rob Sidoli.

The former Cardiff, London Welsh and Rotherham Titans coach will take charge of the Principality Premiership club this summer.

A former player, Burnell  made 16 appearances for Ponty in the 1991 – 1992 season and also represented Bridgend, Treorchy, Cardiff and Neath as an abrasive back rower and was capped by Wales at A level.

He returned to Pontypridd, initially as Academy Director and then as senior coach in 2003, before moving on to the Blues, where he became head coach in 2011.

Burnell also coached at international level with Wales under 19s, claiming the Six Nations Grand Slam and reaching the quarter finals of the FIRA World Cup in 2006.

Most recently, there followed a stint over the border, initially with London Welsh whom he took into the Aviva Premiership, and then with Rotherham.