Ex-Japan coach Dan Bowden returns to the UK with URC outfit

Nearly 10 years since he hung up his playing boots and left Bath, Dan Bowden has returned to the UK as an assistant coach with Cardiff Rugby.

The former New Zealand age-grade fly-half also had spells at London Irish and Leicester in the Prem, having made a name for himself as a gifted playmaker in Super Rugby with the Highlanders.

On retiring from playing, Bowden initially took up a talent identification and recruitment manager role at Auckland, before moving into coaching.

Bowden, 40, helped the capital city club to the NPC title in 2018 and won more silverware in two seasons with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan, as they secured back-to-back League One titles, before joining Eddie Jones in the national set-up in 2024.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to add Dan as an assistant coach. He’s a top-quality coach, has great experience and is a good person who brings energy,” said Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl.

“With Matt (Sherratt) leaving at the beginning of last season, we felt we were a little bit short in a few aspects of the game. So Dan comes in as an assistant who will work across multiple areas of our game.

“We talk a lot about the growth of the team and what we produce on the pitch, but this is an opportunity to grow as coaches and as a coaching group, which will obviously help the overall process.

“He has great experience of the UK and the rugby played here, but most recently he has been attack coach with Japan so he has a wealth of experience, and it will be awesome to have that input improving our systems and players.”

Bowden joins a coaching team including Gethin Jenkins, Jonny Goodridge and Scott Andrews.

And he is relishing the opportunity to test his coaching credentials in the northern hemisphere while helping Cardiff reach the next level.

Bowden said: “I’m very excited to be joining Cardiff Rugby. I have always admired the club’s ambition and the way it wants to play rugby.

“I’m looking forward to contributing my experience, supporting the coaching group and helping the players continue to grow and develop. I can’t wait to get started.”