Cai Griffiths has no regrets leaving professional rugby, as he plans his new career at Bury St Edmunds.
The 32-year-old, who has also featured for London Irish and London Welsh, has taken up a player-coach role with the National 2 side, following 11 years, on and off, with Welsh outfit, Ospreys.
The 19 stone, six-foot three prop, who will coach Bury’s forwards said: “I went to London Irish and London Welsh and that worked well for me, then I returned to Ospreys where I had a really good time and have being doing a bit with the academy.
“But it’s time for me to go to the next stage and start building for a life after (playing) rugby.
“I was looking around for clubs and I was very impressed by Bury. I spoke to Terry Sands (Pro-Am Performance Director) and I was so surprised at how professional the club was and what they are doing there.”
Griffiths, who can play either side of the scrum, joins a club on the up with the first XV having finished comfortably in mid-table following their first season at National 2 level.
“I am pretty experienced and I have had 12 or 13 years at the top, having left school at 17 and gone straight into the professional game,” added Bangor-born Griffiths, who wanted to be nearer his family who reside in London.
“How much I play is a conversation for the coaching staff, but I feel I have a lot to give.
“Off the field I am quite lucky in the respect that I have a good relationship with Ospreys coach Steve Tandy and he is always only a phonecall away if I want to pick his brains.”
Watch Bury’s new siging Cai Griffiths, in action for Ospreys.
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