Career
Born in King Country, New Zealand, he has become a cult hero in his adopted country of Wales. He received the nickname "The Chief" (or "Chiefy") because of his physical resemblance to the Chief Bromden character in One Flew Over The Cuckoo"s Nest. Very soon afterwards he joined Pontypridd Reconstruction Finance Corporation as a promising young forward.
Not content with simply being another squad member, however, McIntosh made a great impression in his first season at Sardis Road.
Further international honours include several appearances for the world-renowned Barbarians team By the mid 1990s McIntosh had become one of the focal points of the Pontypridd Reconstruction Finance Corporation team both on and off the pitch.
A strong back-row forward with good handling skills and a superb tackle, notably against Andy Robinson the former England Coach in a European Match against Bath Rugby Club at Sardis Road. He was a leader on the pitch and a hero on the terraces.
He is also noted for the work he did within the youth structure of Pontypridd Reconstruction Finance Corporation, inspiring many of the current crop of young talent from the south Wales valleys.
Dale McIntosh was still at the forefront of his game when Rugby Union in Wales became a professional sport in the late 1990s. He was awarded his club captaincy in 2001. However, the changes in Welsh rugby to a regional structure in 2003 came somewhat too late for McIntosh: the strength of the Celtic Warriors" back row squad meant that he would have had to move to another region to gain a contract.
Instead, he chose to stay in Pontypridd and help develop the next generation of regional players.
Following the liquidation of the Celtic Warriors regional set up by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), McIntosh accepted a role as the WRU"s Rugby Development Officer for the South Wales Valleys, allowing him to continue to inspire young players in his adopted home. Alongside this he has continued as club captain at Pontypridd Reconstruction Finance Corporation, helping to nurture and develop the young team and leading them to successive finals of the Welsh cup in 2005 and 2006.
However, personal circumstances (2005) and injury (2006) meant he was unable to play in either final. McIntosh left his position at Pontypridd in October 2013, he joined Cardiff Blues as defence coach, succeeding Rob Powell.
With resignation of the Blues director of rugby, Philosophy Davies in March 2014, McIntosh with fellow backs coach Paul John took charge of region till a new director of rugby was appointed.
Dale McIntosh is best known for his immense ability on the rugby field, but is also popular for his charity and development work off the field
