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Josh Navidi

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Josh Navidi
Full nameJoshua Rajai Navidi[1]
Date of birth (1990-12-13) 13 December 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthBridgend, Bridgend County Borough, Wales
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Weight105 kg (231 lb)[2]
School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number eight
Youth career
–2006 Bridgend Athletic
2007–2008 St Bede's College
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 Glamorgan Wanderers ()
2009–2010 Cardiff RFC ()
2010 Cardiff Rugby Academy ()
Correct as of 2010
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2023 Cardiff Rugby 184 (105)
Correct as of 21 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2010 Wales U20 8 (0)
2013–2022 Wales 33 (5)
2021 British & Irish Lions 2 (0)
Correct as of 16 July 2022

Josh Navidi (born 30 December 1990) is a Welsh former international rugby union player who played as a flanker and a number eight. Navidi played for Cardiff Rugby and Wales before he retired, being captain of the national team briefly in 2019, and represented the British and Irish Lions on their 2021 tour of South Africa. He has also previously captained Wales U20.

Early and personal life

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Navidi was born in the South Wales town of Bridgend,[3][4] located in the principal area of the same name, to Iranian father Hedy (Hedayat Rajai Navidi)[5][6] and Welsh mother Euros (née Wyn Lloyd).[3][5] Navidi's mother Euros, a hairdresser, hails from Anglesey in the north-west of Wales.[3] His father, Hedy, who is a businessman and former wrestler,[6][7] hails from Tabriz in the far north-west of Iran[7] which he left at 18-years-old (1979) during the Iranian Revolution.[6][7] Coming to the United Kingdom, Hedy studied at Bangor University in the north of Wales where Navidi's parents met.[3][7]

At 16-years-old Navidi moved to Christchurch, New Zealand with his father.[5] While in New Zealand Navidi attended the Catholic boarding school, St Bede's College.[2][3][4] Navidi spent two years there and played in the school's third XV in his first season. In his second season with St Bede's, which the school granted Navidi a scholarship for, he started every game for the first team. The team finished third after losing to the prestigious Hamilton Boys' High School in the National First XV Championship competition,[5] the premier rugby competition for secondary schools in New Zealand.[8] After two years in New Zealand Navidi was offered a place in the Canterbury Academy,[5][4] however Navidi returned to Wales and was given a trial at Cardiff.[5]

International

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In January 2013 Navidi was selected in the 35 man Wales squad for the 2013 Six Nations championship.[9]

In May 2013 Navidi was selected in the Wales national rugby union team 32 man training squad for the summer 2013 tour to Japan.[10] He made his international debut against Japan at openside flanker on 15 June 2013.[11]

Navidi was a squad member at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and played in four matches[12] before a hamstring injury ended his participation in the tournament. He was called up to the British and Irish Lions squad for the 2021 tour to South Africa following the injury to Justin Tipuric.

References

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  1. ^ "Josh Navidi – Wales". ESPNscrum. ESPN. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Josh Navidi – Welsh Rugby Union". wru.wales. Welsh Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g James, Steve (21 April 2018). "Meet Josh Navidi: the Welsh son of an Iranian wrestler who is turning heads". The Times. News UK. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "New Wales rugby captain Josh Navidi reveals Canterbury contract offer". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 28 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Bridgend born Josh Navidi told Wales Online his father took him to Christchurch at the age of 16 to study and play rugby at St Bede's College.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Walsh, David (31 December 2017). "Josh Navidi: 'I have never spoken highly of myself and I never will — it's just not me'". The Times. News UK. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "World Cup 2022: Wales rugby star Josh Navidi on Iran". BBC. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Schofield, Daniel (8 June 2023). "Josh Navidi: Welsh rugby is a shambles. Players have been offered £30,000 deals". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023.
  8. ^ "2020 Barbarian National Secondary School 1st XV Championships". nzrugby.co.nz.
  9. ^ "Six Nations 2013: Wales name five uncapped players". BBC Sport. 15 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Ryan Jones and James Hook rested by Wales for Japan tour". BBC Sport. 1 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Japan record historic first win over Wales". BBC Sport. 15 June 2013.
  12. ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "Josh Navidi - Rugby World Cup 2019 | rugbyworldcup.com". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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