Rugby Union: WRU keen for retiring Davies to coach

Wales are ready to offer Jonathan Davies a coaching role after he announced his retirement from the sport on Saturday.

Davies, 34, has quit after an outstanding 12-year career when he represented Wales in both rugby codes, as well as the Great Britain rugby league team.

He will pursue a new career with the BBC as a sports presenter and expert analyst.

Davies' decision, not unexpected after his wife Karen died from cancer in June, allows him more time to spend with his three children.

Terry Cobner, the Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby, revealed that talks are planned with Davies next month. "Jonathan is coming to see us, and we'll then see whether he wants to get involved in any capacity."

Davies wore the famous red jersey 32 times, bowing out of international rugby when the curtain came down on Cardiff Arms Park as a Test match arena last March.

He returned to union from league in October 1995, bridging an eight-year gap by playing against Australia 13 months later. Davies captained Wales on four occasions before joining Widnes for pounds 200,000 in January, 1989.

"I'll play for fun, for charity and I might play a bit of serious sevens, but my professional career is over," Davies said.

"I have to admit that during the last months of Karen's illness, and since we lost her, rugby has never been uppermost in my mind, but when I returned from a long holiday with the kids I had to give some thought to my future. I suddenly realised that the problem was not going to be playing rugby, but training for it.

"Due to injury, I hadn't trained at all this summer, and that didn't suit me. Throughout my career, the basis of my fitness has been pre-season work," he added.

"Not only did I face a severe catching-up period with the Cardiff squad, I then had to contend with a training routine of two sessions a day, four days a week, a match on Saturday and a recovery session on Sunday.

"That is a huge commitment, and I couldn't, in all honesty, promise to take it on."

Gareth Edwards saluted Davies' contribution to a sport he also graced with Neath, Llanelli and the rugby league clubs Warrington and Canterbury- Bankstown.

"Jonathan was one of the greatest talents of his generation," Edwards said.

"He played during a time when Wales struggled, but it was often his genius that enabled them to win matches. He became a better player after his league career - it broadened Jonathan's experience and ability."