Josh Navidi

Josh Navidi took his first steps in rugby with Brynteg Comprehensive School and Bridgend Athletic RFC, but at the age of 16 he moved to Christchurch, in New Zealand, where he studied accountancy and PE at St Bede’s College. He made a big impression during his two years there helping the school win the South Island College League and was offered a place in the Canterbury Academy.

Upon returning to Wales he was snapped up by the Cardiff Blues Academy and featured for Wales at Under 20 level in 2009. He went on to play in all of Wales’ matches in the 2010 Under 20 Six Nations alongside the likes of Scott Williams, Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Davies, eventually winning eight caps.

He played for Glamorgan Wanderers in the Welsh Premiership before making his Cardiff Blues debut against Leinster at the RDS in 2009. Equally at home in any position across the back row, he was first called into the Wales Squad In January, 2013, ahead of the 6 Nations championship. He didn’t get a game, but then went on the summer tour to Japan and made his debut against the Japanese in Tokyo.

He had to wait four years before winning his second cap, against Tonga in Auckland on the 2017 summer tour, and went on to become the stand-out player for Wales in the 2017 Autumn Series. His Six Nations debut came in the win over Scotland on 3 February, 2018, and he started four games in that championship. A year later and he was a starter in all five Six Nations games in the Grand Slam campaign.

After recovering from a lengthy shoulder injury, he returned to the Welsh squad for the final two rounds of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations campaign, replacing Cardiff Rugby teammate Ellis Jenkins. He had last played for Wales against France in the 32-30 defeat in Paris in March 2021.