London Welsh have confirmed that head coach Lyn Jones has left the club to become director of rugby at Newport Gwent Dragons.

The 48-year-old, who was unable to keep London Welsh in the Aviva Premiership this season, said he would stay with the Exiles, if they had a clear plan, which included staying in Oxford.

So far, the club have not indicated where they intend to play the matches in the Championship next season.

Commenting his departure, the London Welsh chairman Bleddyn Phillips, said: “We are very sad to lose Lyn but after several meetings with him over the past week or so it is abundantly clear that he wishes to move back to Wales for very understandable personal reasons and to be closer to his family.

"We are very fortunate to have had someone of Lyn’s calibre as our head coach these past two seasons and, as a Club, owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for all that he has achieved for London Welsh."

Phillips added the club had drawn up a short lift of possible successors.