Cai Griffiths announces his retirement from his role as DoR.

The end of the 2025/26 season marks the end of a quite remarkable era in the latest chapter of the illustrious story of London Welsh Rugby Football Club.  

This Year marks the end of the tenure of Cai Griffiths as Head Coach & DoR at London Welsh. However, before we reflect on the last 9 years and 8 seasons (the Covid season having been lost) of Cai Griffiths at the helm, it is important to set the scene for context.

Following the well documented difficulties at London Welsh in the 2016/17 season, a second relegation from the English Premiership in three seasons and the ejection of the professional side from the Championship to the depths of level 9 of the English Pyramid and Herts Middlesex 1; a drop of 7 divisions. Needless to say, for a club of the size, history and stature of London Welsh, this was a seismic shock, some could say, our lowest ebb. The professional squad had all been made redundant, the coaching, medical and analysis teams released and the Board disbanded. London Welsh was laid bare and fell back on to the amateur arm of the club. As a glimmer of hope, the amateur arm actually represented the true London Welsh RFC, holding the original name, lease to Old Deer Park, IP and domain names etc.

The scene was set for the club to begin the 2017/18 season with a substantial facility to maintain, the scattered remnants of a professional era and little to no financial backing. The board of the amateurs, now with responsibility for the whole club and its legacy thrust upon them responded by calling upon Sonny Toi Parker, who had been lead coach in the former professional era, to try to persuade him to remain with the club and to be part of the rebuild, which to everyone’s relief he was happy to do.

Cai Griffiths was simultaneously ending his professional career having returned to the Ospreys for a swansong season in 2015/2016 and then spending a year at Bury St Edmunds as a player coach the following year. Sonny was in no doubt that Cai was the right man to spearhead the journey back! Very quickly the plan was formed to regain national league rugby status within 5 seasons, that being 4 promotions at that time to return to reach national 3 (or level 5). It was at the offices of now club sponsors Weightmans, at 85 Fleet Street in the City of London in May 2017, that Cai Griffiths stood in front of patron club members, supportive business figures, former players and the London Welsh RFC community, to set out the vision for London Welsh into the future, the phoenix from the flames, the beginning of what became coined: project reset.

Despite the name and gravitas that both Sonny and Cai brought to the club at that time, I can reflect from my own experience as a Board member at that time, the trepidation of the board  as to how the pending season would indeed turnout, would the supporter base still remain with us, would we have a squad and could we really achieve what Cai had just been tasked with.

The first incredible impact that Cai made on the club was the simple fact of his presence, a big name in Welsh rugby, a recognised figure, a positive and well-spoken advocate for our project. In short, Cai gave the club and its supporters hope and belief that there was a future for this great old club.

The years that would follow may not seem staggering at first glance, given that the leagues that Welsh played in were levels 9 to 6 in the pyramid in the first 4 seasons, with Welsh winning Herts & Middlesex one, London South East 3, 2 and 1 in successive seasons. In essence, project reset was completed with 4 promotions in 4 campaigns; a year ahead of the 5 season timetable. However, this was a staggering achievement given the shock of 2016/17, the loss of all support financially and the original playing squad.

Throughout the years of continual promotion Cai kept the squad together, focused and passionate about the unique club that London Welsh is and the united passion that all at the club had for project reset. Indeed, after two consolidation seasons from 2022/23 and 2023/24 finishing 6^th and 3^rd consecutively in Regional 1/ National 3, Welsh were promoted once again in the 2024/25 season to National 2, winning National 3/Regional 1 by 8 clear points from old rivals Jersey in second, and by a mammoth 30 points from 3^rd place – losing only 1 game all season. That completed 5 promotions in 7 seasons, taking Welsh from level 9 to level 4 and only 2 divisions below the championship that Welsh had exited some 8 years prior.

Over the period Cai had called upon some great names for assistance, Sonny Parker, Tom May, Steve Shingler, Tommy Bell and latterly Max Bodilly; all adding their great value and experience. However, again it was Cai that held the coaching team, supporter base and indeed club staff and board, together for this extended period of reinvention and progression. The sheer logistical, emotional and practical adaptability and resilience that is required to progress through the leagues that quickly is monumental. It was Cai that was the ever present, cool headed constant.

Above all, throughout this period, Cai has managed to retain and enhance the spirit, trust and belief of the playing squad. His passion and ethos has remained constant all the way back down to level 9 and up to level 4. Cai has been a brilliant leader, coach and friend to all. Cai has epitomised what we stand for as a club, a group of friends united by an history name and playing the sport that we all love, within a very close and supportive community. A true legend of London Welsh in the modern era. It is fair to say, there will not be many in the 140 year history of our great club that can be said to have done more for London Welsh, or indeed been as important as Cai Griffiths has been to the life and existence of London Welsh RFC.

Some highs and lows through the years included: a spectacular trip to Jersey in the 2024 to topple our unbeaten league rivals on their own patch 36-28, a first important win against league top table rivals Bank RFC on 04.11.2017 (25-23 in Herts Middlesex 1, ) at the other end of the spectrum a first loss of project reset to UCS Old Boys on 30./09/17, a memorable 0-0 draw away to Old Streetonians in monsoon conditions 06.10.18, a promotion winning bonus point win on the road to league challengers Chiswick RFC 32-7 on 07/12/19 to all but secure the path to the London 2 title (level 7).

Cai Griffiths retires from his role as Director of Rugby with the keys to old deer park, and a record that shows:

Seasons      8

Promotions 5

GAMES       178

Won           135

Drawn        2

Lost           41

WIN RATIO  75.84%

The number speak for themselves. In addition, between his time in the professional squad era and post project reset, Cai has played 66 times for London Welsh scoring 11 tries!

Seldom will you find a sustained win ratio of this magnitude over such an extended period of time and having progressed during that time so far up the rugby pyramid.

I know that I speak for the Board, the squad and the entire London Welsh RFC community, in unreservedly thanking Cai for his dedication, his success and his love for our club; a hard act to follow. Although Cai leaves his role, he does not leave our community, he will always be part of our history and legacy past and present; he will very much be seen around the club in the into the future.

In the words of our Chairman Danny Griffiths “Cai has been a huge part in everything we have achieved, not only on the pitch as an outstanding head coach and DoR, but also as an integral ingredient in understanding and maintaining our unique London Welsh culture built on not just our great legacy but on friendships, and hywl in what is an ever changing, and not always for the good, rugby landscape, he will be sorely missed by all but it is up to us now to continue to build on the solid foundations he has set for us”.