Mark Ring takes Cardiff coaching role

Cardiff RFC have brought in former Wales centre and fly-half Mark Ring as backs coach.

He had been coaching Cross Keys' backs in the Welsh Premiership, helping them to beat Pontypridd 32-19 to win the 2012 Swalec Cup final in May.

Cardiff Blues confirmed in a statement: "Mark Ring will join the [Cardiff] club as backs coach."

Ring, 50, made 32 Wales appearances during a career in which he starred for Cardiff and Pontypool rugby clubs.

Highlights of Ring's career included a major role in Wales' 1988 Triple Crown.

He played in the first Heineken Cup final, in which Cardiff lost to Toulouse in 1996, then turned to coaching.

Ring's off-field career began at West Hartlepool and has also included stints at Cardiff RFC and Caerphilly.

In addition to Cross Keys' 2012 Swalec Cup success, Ring helped head coach Greg Woods guide the part-timers into the British & Irish Cup final, where they lost 31-12 to Munster A.