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Cardiff Blues confirm Davies appointment
ESPNscrum Staff
May 3, 2012
Wales U20 coach and former Wales skipper Phil Davies during his time as Leeds coach, January 22 2006
Phil Davies looks set to be the Blues' new director of rugby © Getty Images
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Cardiff Blues have confirmed that they have appointed former Scarlets boss Phil Davies as their new director of rugby.

Davies has held roles at both the Scarlets and Leeds but has spent the past two seasons with Worcester as their forwards coach. Davies had two years left on his deal with the Warriors and their chairman Cecil Duckworth revealed that they have agreed to "modest" compensation for the ex-Wales Under-20s coach.

Davies will now link up with the Blues ahead of next season and is keen on utilising the region's youth set-up with the purse stringed tightened across the four regions.

"Our aim will be to move forward, play attractive rugby and over time develop the Blues into a very competitive side in all competitions and ultimately win trophies and produce quality players to represent Wales!" Davies said. "I know an awful lot of the players from my time at the National Academy and I know not only at the Blues but in the whole of Wales there are some fantastic academy systems producing some good players.

"There is a lot of change happening and with that comes a element of excitement and uncertainty, with that in mind there will be some growing pains moving forward as we develop the capabilities and experiences of a very talented group of players and staff.

"I know from my time at the Scarlets introducing young players such as Ken Owens, Rhys Priestland, Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams does take some time. They were very young when I was there but look at them now. It's important that people understand it's going to time but we are on the starting line here to something really exciting."

With the Welsh regions reportedly struggling financially, Davies is keen on bringing the crowds back to Cardiff. To drive this, he is keen on playing an attacking brand of rugby.

"I like to develop teams based on a few important principles," Davies said. "We have good basic skills. Some people will say that's stating the obvious, but I think it is important that we are able to perform the basics well under pressure. We need strong foundations, which are: mean defence, quality kicking game and accurate set piece.

"We will look to play the way Welsh players like, which is with flair and expression, hopefully with a lot of tries thrown in. Sometimes things don't always go to plan, but if you've got strong basics and core skills, then you hopefully have the foundations to let players express themselves. With the speed and talent we have in the back line, this will hopefully get people excited to come and watch the Blues watch."

The Warriors will now look to replace Davies with Duckworth wishing his now former coach good luck in his new role with the Blues.

"Phil is now joining the Blues," Duckworth told the BBC. "We're sorry to lose him, but we wouldn't want to stand in his way.

"He [Davies] sees that as progress in his career and obviously we wish him well, but very sad to lose him. I think we've got a degree of compensation, but I don't know, to be honest, the precise details. I think it's fairly modest… hopefully everybody's happy."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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