Sonny Parker to return home to New Zealand

After spending his first holiday in his native New Zealand for over 4 years, Sonny has confirmed his long-stated wish to return to the southern hemisphere-after nearly 20 seasons as an elite sportsman in the UK and many years’ service to London Welsh.

Sonny joined the famous London Welsh for the 2012-13 season and played for both the Premiership and Championship sides before playing his last game in Herts Middlesex 1 last season. He appeared 44 times in total for the club before taking on the role of 1st team manager for the 2014-15 season under Lyn Jones and continuing that role for Justin Burnell and Roland Phillips.

"I feel very lucky to have got to know Sonny over the last few seasons," commented Chairman Gwyn Williams.

"His presence off the field last year was instrumental in giving all of us confidence in developing and executing our 5-year plan...We are a much stronger club than we were 12 months ago thanks to Sonny but in Cai Griffiths we have an outstanding head coach, inspirational leader and an individual of such quality I am constantly amazed at his increasingly significant contribution to our club and his overwhelming enthusiasm for what we are doing..."