FORMER Wales scrum-half Richie Rees has left his role with the Dragons academy to return to Cardiff Blues.

The 34-year-old from Dunvant played 47 games for the Rodney Parade side between 2013 and 2015 and then joined the management team after hanging up his boots.

The nine-times capped half-back took up a role as skills coach and assistant to academy manager James Chapron, while he also provided occasional help for the senior side.

However, Rees has left the Dragons to take up an opportunity at the club where he enjoyed his greatest on-field success.

He played 100 times for the Arms Park side, winning the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2010 the year after he scored a penalty in the agonising Heineken Cup semi-final shootout defeat to Leicester at the Millennium Stadium.

Rees’ exploits in Cardiff earned him honours on the Test stage and the qualified PE teacher will now return to the capital to help develop the next generation.

He has been appointed as part of Danny Wilson’s backroom staff as a ‘transition coach’ along with fellow former Blues favourite Nicky Robinson.

Rees said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Dragons but when the opportunity arose to come back to Cardiff Blues it was one I simply could not turn down as I have such a big connection with the region. It is great to be back and I'm really excited about this role.

"I'm looking forward to working within, and adding to, the transition team and particularly working with and learning from Danny Wilson and Matt Sherratt on the field.

"There is so much young talent at the Blues, and you only have to look at their representation at the recent World Rugby U20s Championship to see that.

"With a growing emphasis of developing talent within, it is important that we give our young players as much of a service as possible and I'm really looking forward to playing a part in that."

Wilson said: "I'm delighted to welcome Nicky and Richie to Cardiff Blues. They bring a wealth of experience and have a strong association with the region, where they enjoyed success as players.

"Their appointments are part of our ongoing commitment to invest both time and resource to getting the most out of the young talent within the region.

"When Nicky arrived last year and started to do a bit of work with the younger boys I could see he would be a good coach and it is great that he will remain part of our set-up.

"We also felt we needed someone to provide more of a service to our young scrum-halves. Richie fits that bill perfectly, as well as working with the backs generally with Matt Sherratt."