“He has made a huge amount of progress within the top end of professional coaching and his role as Llanelli Scarlets backs coach has seen him coaching and developing a crop of current Welsh international backs including Dwayne Peel, Mark Jones, Tal Selley, Barry Davies, Matthew Watkins and previously Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones.
“I believe this appointment will add to what we are trying to do as a coaching group. Nigel has international playing experience and has had intense exposure to the sharp edge of professional rugby.
“Outside of his technical abilities, Nigel and I share a strong view on a Welsh way of playing rugby and a Welsh ethos. This is an important addition to the team which will hopefully be strengthened further over the coming weeks.”
Nigel Davies, Wales attack coach, said, “There is a real buzz in Welsh rugby at the moment and I am thrilled to be part of that. It’s a huge challenge but it’s an exciting time, a year out from the World Cup and with a real belief that we can do well there.
“We have great depth coming through the age grade and academy system in Wales at the moment and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with the job of selecting the squad for the tour to Argentina next month.”
Meanwhile, Clive Griffiths will not be part of Gareth Jenkins’s new coaching team and has decided not to tour Argentina with Wales next month. Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said, “I recognise the work Clive has done with the Wales squad, he was a big part of the success the team has enjoyed over the past two seasons but my view going forward is that it is important for me to create a new coaching environment with a new coaching team around me.
“I have had open discussions with Clive and I have explained this to him. He felt that rather than stay on for the tour of Argentina, that it was better for him to concentrate on new opportunities elsewhere. It is important to thank Clive for his hard-work, commitment and professionalism during his time with Wales.”
Griffiths said, “In a way, I understand Gareth’s point of view but I am disappointed at leaving international rugby because it has played a major part of my professional coaching career and life over the past 16 years.
“I will now pursue other offers and I look forward with huge anticipation to taking up a new challenge within a vibrant, club environment.”
Steve Lewis, Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union said, “Clive played a major role in the 2005 Grand Slam and should take great credit in Welsh rugby’s current good health. His hard work and technical expertise produced an excellent defensive record for Wales under Clive.
“During his time with Wales, we have not only secured our first Grand Slam in 27 years but we beat Australia last November and, despite suffering a string of injuries during this season’s RBS Six Nations, there were positive performances from a number of young players which means that a year out from the Rugby World Cup, we can now say we have considerable strength in depth.
“However, it is important to move on and it was vital for Gareth Jenkins to select his own coaching team to lead Wales to the Rugby World Cup. Nigel’s record at the Scarlets speaks for himself as do the performances of the Wales players whom he has guided through to the highest level.”
The Welsh Rugby Union will of course honour Clive Griffiths’s contract terms.
NIGEL DAVIES
Nigel Gareth Davies won 29 caps for Wales after making his debut in the 1988 match against New Zealand. The former centre scored five Test tries and made his last international appearance against England in 1997. A one-club player, he appeared in a record nine Welsh Cup finals for the Scarlets, hanging up his boots after the 1999 Cup final against Swansea. Born in Llanelli on 29 March 1965, he joined the Llanelli coaching staff in May 1999
CLIVE GRIFFITHS
Clive Ronald Griffiths was first appointed to the Wales management team on 1 July, 2001. He was recalled to the staff by Mike Ruddock in March, 2004. Capped by Wales in both Union and League codes, he also played for Llanelli, the Barbarians, St Helens and Salford. He coached St Helens, Warrington, Wales and the Great Britain Rugby League sides before returning to Union with London Welsh, Swansea and the Gwent Dragons. Born in Loughor on 2 April, 1954, he was capped against England in 1979.
