Coaching role for Rush in Cardiff

Published on 12/07/2012 02:32

Xavier Rush has been named as Cardiff Blues’ defence coach after being forced to retire from playing due to a neck injury.

The 34-year-old suffered the injury in the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by Leinster in April and has been advised by medical experts to hang up his boots.

The No 8 won eight caps for New Zealand and captained Auckland Blues to the 2003 Super 12 title before moving to the Welsh region in 2005, going on to score 22 tries in 153 appearances.

He captained the region between 2006 and 2008 and helped the Blues to Anglo-Welsh Cup success in 2009 and Amlin Challenge Cup glory in 2010.

He joins director of rugby Phil Davies’ coaching staff but admits it has been hard to accept that his playing career is over.

“It’s not really sunk in that I won’t play again because it’s the off season,” he said.

“When the boys kick off back down at the Arms Park then I think reality will hit and I’ll miss being out there with them.

“This would have been my 17th season and I would have been a professional rugby player for as long as I haven’t been a professional rugby player, so it’s going to take a bit of getting used to.”

The Kiwi is thinking positively about the future with Cardiff though. “I’m really looking forward to the new role and working under Phil Davies.

“He’s an experienced coach in his own right and just in terms of the chats we’ve been having I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot.

“I look forward to working alongside him and the staff there already.”

Rush’s appointment coincides with Justin Burnell leaving the region with immediate effect.

Burnell was in joint charge of the first team last season along with Gareth Baber.

Chief executive Richard 
Holland said: “Justin has been part of the Cardiff Blues set-up for the last eight years, progressing through the system to become Cardiff Blues’ forward coach and most recently joint head coach.

“We would like to thank him for the commitment that he has shown over the years and we wish him the very best for the future.”