McIntosh, Dale

Biography:

As the heart of Pontypridd Rugby Football Club continues to beat, it surely beats the strongest in the breast of this man.

Dale first came over to these shores from his home in New Zealand's King Country in 1989 following his elder brother Shane to Ponty.

He has been a stalwart of the club ever since and qualified for a testimonial in 1999. Courtesy of a Scottish grandfather Dale played for that country's A team in 1992 but then elected to represent his adopted homeland winning a first senior cap for Wales against South Africa in 1996.

Good distribution off the base of the scrum, making the hard yards, and the big hits, are Dale's forte.

A combination of Kiwi brawn and brain and raw Welsh passion have made the Chief a cult figure with the Sardis Road supporters.

Some of his awesome tackles have already entered into the club's folklore whilst the ultimate honour was bestowed upon Dale when he was elected as captain of Pontypridd RFC in 2001, 2003 and again in 2005.

Having previously been employed as a development officer with the highly successful "Buy as you View" schools initiative, in the summer of 2004, Dale took up a post as WRU and Blues regional development officer in the Valleys, passing on his great wealth of rugby knowledge to a new generation of up and coming players.

Retiring from playing at the close of the 2006/07 season, Dale took up the position of forwards coach under the stewardship of former team-mate, Paul John. 

During the 2009/10 close season, a tactical switch was made, owing to Paul John's increasing workload with his dual role as Head Coach of the Wales National Sevens squad, with Dale becoming head Coach of Pontypridd RFC.

Having guided Pontypridd through a hugely successful campaign, Dale McIntosh was given the accolade of Premiership Coach of the Year 2011.