Nathan Grey made his last appearance at Allianz Stadium in the Super 12 semi-final of 2005 – Photo: seiserphotography.com

by NSWRU Media –

Nathan Grey will return to NSW to join the Waratahs’ coaching team for the 2014 Super Rugby season.

One of the state’s most capped players of all time, the former Wallabies and NSW Waratahs centre represented NSW on 94 occasions in a nine-year playing career.  He will now return to Sydney, bringing with him a wealth of coaching experience and specialist defence skills honed during a five-year stint with Japanese side Kyuden and three seasons with the Melbourne Rebels.

Said Waratahs Rugby’s Head Coach Michael Cheika, “I feel Nathan is a perfect fit in what I’m looking for to progress the direction the coaching staff is taking.

“Nathan has 94 caps for NSW as a player and eight years of great experience as a coach in different countries, putting him well on the way to fulfilling the criteria of the man we were looking for. Combine that with him being an outstanding performer as a player for state and country in the areas that he will oversee, and it was difficult to find a better person for the job.”

Sharing his excitement at the move, Grey said, “The opportunities to coach and develop under Michael and the other assistants, combined with the challenges of growing a strong playing group expanding their belief, are at the core of my decision to make the move to the Waratahs.

“As a player, the Waratahs gave me lot and in my continual development as a coach, from Japan to Melbourne I feel very lucky and honoured to have the opportunity to give back to the club through my coaching.

“I am excited about the challenges and rewards that only come through hard work and dedication to be the best.”

As a player, Grey was known as an aggressive, go-forward centre with crunching defensive skills. After making his NSW debut in 1997, he went on to become the state’s most capped centre in history and ranks 16th amongst the NSW Waratahs’ top try scorers of all time.  His seven-year international career saw him win 35 Test caps and lift the Webb Ellis Cup as part of the 1999 World Cup-winning team.

Grey starts in October and will oversee the defensive performance and contact skills of the squad.