Jon Aby has been named as the new head coach of Chester RUFC and will start work at the National League Two North club next month when pre-season training begins.

Aby joins the Hare Lane outfit as a replacement for Nic Corrigan, who left his role as director of rugby last November to take up a position at Cinderford.

Club stalwart Mike Craven took over on an interim basis but stepped down following the last game of the season.

Steve Donovan, the club’s director of sport, said he was delighted with the appointment of Aby.

“Jon is a very experienced coach with a strong rugby pedigree both as player and coach,” said Donovan.

“He will be a great addition to the club as we continue our drive to build on the success we have had over the last few seasons.”

An experienced coach who runs his own performance centre in Wrexham, Aby has coached in the Sale Sharks academy and at North Wales regional side Gogledd Cymru, where he helped set up WRU development club RGC 1404. He has also held coaching roles at Mold, Wrexham and Whitchurch.