Monmouth RFC has announced its new head coach for the 2019/20 season will be former Welsh international Chay Billen.

After the departure of head coach Paul Emmanuelli after the last title-winning season, Monmouth will now be led by the experienced former lock, who has coached in the Welsh Premiership with Ebbw Vale as well as his home town club Gwernyfed RFC.

As well as coaching and teaching at Llandovery College, Chay, who is Level 4 qualified, mentors young and inexperienced coaches on behalf of the WRU.

Chay’s rugby career saw him represent Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Waikite in New Zealand and Newport.

In a statement the Monmouth RFC committee said they were: “very pleased to be able to secure the services of such a highly qualified coach, who has experience of playing and coaching at the highest level.

“The ability to call upon his mentoring skills to help develop our coaches within young and senior rugby will prove highly beneficial,” it added.

Chay will be joined at Monmouth by the first of the club’s summer signings.

Brett Turner and Harry Whelan have both represented England at under 20 level, and have played for both Lydney and Cinderford in the English National Championship.

The club will also welcome a familiar face in the form of utillity back Rhys Ricketts. Rhys holds the club record for most points in one season, and his combative nature on the field will be of huge benefit to the team in Division One East this season.