THORNBURY RFC have been handed a bombshell with head coach Gareth Llewellyn’s sudden departure from the club after six years at the helm.
Llewellyn has left to join the club with which he is most associated with during his playing career, Welsh Premiership outfit Neath.
The former Welsh international second row and captain is his country’s most capped forward with 92 appearances and joined Thornbury from junior side Tonmawr where he spent a year after ending his playing career.
That finished in 2008 after making 52 appearances for Bristol.
Llewellyn, who works in the medical industry throughout Wales and the South West of England, will become Neath’s new forwards coach and is succeeded at Thornbury by his assistant and another former Bristol ace Rob Higgitt.
A statement from Thornbury on Wednesday praised the six feet six inch coach’s contribution to the club.
The statement said said: “After six seasons as head coach at Thornbury RFC Gareth Llewellyn is leaving to take up an appointment with Neath.  Rob Higgitt takes over coaching the first XV.
“The former Wales captain, who joined Thornbury in 2009, was approached by Neath RFC last week and is taking up the position of forwards coach at his former club with immediate effect.
“Rob Higgitt will be running the show at Thornbury, and there will be further coaching appointments announced in due course.”
Just weeks ago, Llewellyn, who also works as an expert summariser for BBC Wales on their live rugby programmes, was linked with another move across the Severn Bridge to coach regional side Cardiff Blues but denied it. The Blues eventually appointed another Bristol man, Danny Wilson, as their man in charge.
But Thornbury did well in the Tribute South West One West League and his work there had not gone unnoticed by clubs and people in the Principality.
The statement added: “The Llewellyn era at Thornbury has been a good one.  His contribution has been huge.  In addition to bringing in new concepts and approaches to coaching, he took a club languishing in the lower reaches of Western Counties North to a play-off in his first season then promotion to South West One West in his second.  
“The last four seasons have seen them consolidate their place in that league with season-by-season improvement with broadly the same small group of players.  
“Thornbury reached the Combination Cup Final for the first time in 2012 and their semi-final win over Clifton at Cribbs Causeway is regarded as one of the biggest shocks in the history of that competition.
 “Although saddened by his departure, Thornbury are grateful for having such a high-profile coach for such a long time.  Gareth heads further along the M4 with the very best wishes of the rugby club.
“Thornbury RFC now look forward to the Rob Higgitt era, and continued success.”