The Cardiff Blues have confirmed that Xavier Rush has been forced to retire from injury but will take up a role as defence coach with the region.

Rush, who played at No.8, suffered an injury to his neck during the Heineken Cup quarter-final with Leinster back in April and has since been advised to retire from playing. He has played 16 seasons in professional rugby and joined Cardiff back in 2005 from the Auckland Blues.

He helped guide them to European Challenge Cup success in 2010 and then agreed a deal to sign with Ulster at the end of the 2009-10 season only to then change his mind. While Rush admits he will miss running out in front of the Blues' support, he is relishing the chance to take on his role under the new management at the region.

"I'm really looking forward to the new role and working under Phil Davies," Rush said. "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. Rugby has been a massive part of my life and I think I have a lot of experience within the game."

"Obviously coaching is a different skill-set and one that I will have to learn and learn quickly but I look forward to developing some youngsters and being part of a game that I dearly love. There's some good talent amongst the loose forwards in the Blues."

Speaking of Rush's retirement from rugby and his new role at the Blues, chairman Peter Thomas said: "Unquestionably back in 2005 when Xavier came on the radar we knew we would have very stiff competition to obtain his services.

"The record will show he has undoubtedly been the most outstanding overseas recruit we have ever had. He brought a level of professionalism, both on and off the pitch, which was of the highest standard possible.

"He was captain of the side for three years and he is major figure for all the academy and development players. Nobody trains harder than him and nobody's standards are higher than his and he has just been amazing player. He has the will to win.

"The very fact that there is a role that secures his involvement with the Blues for the next two seasons I think is fantastic. He has that Kiwi edge and has level two coaching and is currently going for level three and four. His support to Phil Davies and the boys will be unquestionable."

But while Rush joins the Blues, forwards coach Justin Burnell has left the region with immediate effect. He held the post of joint head coach with Gareth Baber last term and the Blues CEO Richard Holland has paid tribute to Burnell.

"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," Holland said. "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."

Well I don't think anyone will have anything bad to say about Rush.

Who will be at 8 now? hasnt Molitika also gone?

Andries Pretorius

Andries Pretorius

Ulster really dodged a bullet there.

Height: 193cm / 6'4" Weight: 110kg / 17st 5lbs

Well big enough. Whether he can play there is another question

Ulster really dodged a bullet there.

Height: 193cm / 6'4" Weight: 110kg / 17st 5lbs

Well big enough. Whether he can play there is another question

Ulster really dodged a bullet there.

Rush, who played at No.8, suffered an injury to his neck during the Heineken Cup quarter-final with Leinster back in April

Ghost,

Seen the fixtures? - you get the Xmas derby at home AGAIN. That's a lot of cash for us to miss out on.

Can't believe how we keep getting fucked over.

I dunno. September at Rodney parade, you should still be able to target selling that out. You've the Ospreys at Christmas, not too bad.

So did Connacht

The Ospreys fans don't travel - The Blues do. It's the Christmas fixture and we've been swapping over the fixture for decades now.

But i do think it'd be a bit of a waste playing it at RP at Christmas.

I don't get you.

I also think you miss the point about it being a Christmas game, people come home to Newport from all over the world and finally get to see a game with their families.

Because you'll get more for the ospreys at Christmas than you ought to at other times of the year. Whereas a Cardiff derby really ought fill RP regardless.

Ospreys should still be a good draw for people home for Christmas?

Will all the bogpigs please fuck off this thread.

Thanks.

They did indeed, he could have gotten a forced retirement injury before April this year

Were we in for him?

Almost had him until he ran into some personal issues.

Almost had him until he ran into some personal issues.

when was that?

Didn't fancy living in the shittiest part of Britain.

I thought you wanted the bogpigs to fuck off this thread, not flock here in their hundreds.

Less of what Banana said, more of what Boot said.

Hell, I'll do it in three succinct words.

Piss drunk cock.

Much like yourself then.