The 52-year-old former All Black became a cult figure during his five-year spell with the Ospreys. He will return to Wales in a new capacity, joining forces with Dai Flanagan’s coaching team at Rodney Parade.
The Wellington-born former back row forward has picked up a wealth of coaching experience since hanging up his boots and will fill a gaping hole in the Dragons coaching team.
He was head coach at Toyota Verblitz and Sunwolves in Japan and spent time as forwards coach with the Japan national side. He also spent time working as a forwards coach with Auckland and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby.
More recently the two-time capped Tiatia was director of rugby at Rangitoto College in Auckland.
“Filo will return to Wales with a wealth of coaching experience and is an innovator and leader in every sense of the word. He will make a huge impression here,” said Flanagan.
“There is no doubt he will grab this role with both hands and stamp his mark on it. I’ve always stated it shouldn’t be easy when teams come to Rodney Parade or face the Dragons and I know that Filo will work with our squad to rebuild that area of our game and make it his very own.
“Filo will be a great ally and I know how keen he is to come back to Wales and become a Dragon.”
