As pre-season kicked off for the Cardiff Rugby squad earlier this week, there was a familiar addition to the coaching department, as backs coach Matt Sherratt returned to Cardiff Arms Park for the first time in three years.
The popular coach, who was part of the backroom staff when Cardiff lifted the European Challenge Cup in 2018, has joined Dai Young’s coaching team following stints with Ospreys and Worcester Warriors.
Sherratt, who has also worked with Wales and Bristol, says Cardiff still has a special place in his heart and has felt right at home since his return.
The backs coach explained: “The move to spend two or three years away was really beneficial in terms of working with different players and coaches and I’d recommend it in any job.
“But especially in coaching, the more experience and varied experience you can get, the better.
“Obviously I enjoyed it at Ospreys, and Worcester was very challenging but enjoyable to be working with the coaches there and a good group of players.
“I’ve learnt a lot and I think I’ve changed as a coach since I’ve been away. Hopefully I’m coming back as a more rounded coach.
“But I’ve still got a relationship with these boys so hopefully those relationships will stay the same while my coaching has moved on.
“It’s a place that genuinely means a lot to me. Driving in, it does feel like coming back home.
“The way we finished three seasons ago, with winning the Challenge Cup, you make bonds and relationships that are long-lasting. So a lot of the boys and coaches I worked with here, I’ve kept in touch with them over the last three years.
“It’s been a really nice place to come back to.”
While the main focus of the next few weeks will be on conditioning work, there is also a healthy balance to ensure plenty of skills and rugby-based drills are included in the scheduled.
With a number of players currently away on international duty, Sherratt is excited by the squad at his disposal as catches up with old friends and gets to know the new faces.
Sherratt added: “It’s been very good and, as it is with the start of any new job, there were a few butterflies on the first couple of days.
“But I obviously know a lot of the players, and not a load of the staff, so it was pretty familiar as well and it’s been nice to come back in.
“There are a lot of boys away with Wales and the Lions, but a lot of those boys I already know so with 30 boys training it’s been good to get to know a lot of boys I haven’t spent much time with.
“It’s been a very good start and from what I can see there’s a good mixture of young lads coming through and some experienced players coming back into the frame from injury."