Wales fans were saddened to see one former team talisman retire from rugby at the peak of his powers to start a peculiar second career while chasing another passion
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
09:30, 23 Nov 2025
Josh Navidi (middle) ended his Wales career before beginning a new life as a car dealer and DJ(Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Former Wales fan favourite Josh Navidi was considered a great loss when he hung up his rugby boots in 2023. But while one door closed for the 14-year Cardiff veteran, another opened as he went on to chase his second passion in DJing.
Navidi’s nous for the wheels of steel was well-known among many team-mates and fans before injury forced him into early retirement. The 34-year-old seemingly possesses a knack for wheels in general, however, after also taking up a career as a car dealer since stepping away from the field.
Navidi spent most of his career with Cardiff and some of his younger years in New Zealand. Despite being first capped by ex-Wales coach Warren Gatland in 2013, it was another four years before he went on to receive his second.
The back-row talisman finally got the recognition he deserved after becoming a more frequent fixture in the Wales squad from 2017 onwards. This culminated with Navidi playing a key role in Wales’ Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019, two years before he was called up as injury cover for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa.
That series ended up being largely responsible for his early departure, however. Navidi – whose father, Hedy, was a wrestler in his homeland, Iran – suffered a neck injury in South Africa that ultimate playing a big part in him hanging up his boots in 2023 at the prime age of just 32.
Some star athletes take their time in finding new streams of revenue after leaving the world of sport. Not Navidi, though, as he threw himself into car sales and opened a dealership in Barry called Cute Club.
Navidi retired from rugby in 2023 and started a new career as a car dealer in Barry(Image: Jonathan Myers)
“It started off with me just buying my own cars, driving them, and then selling them the next year because I’ve always been a petrol head,” he told Wales Online shortly following his retirement. “I’ve always had sporty cars but now I go for stuff with less fuel, and I’ve always changed my cars every year. I started going to auctions for my own stuff and then boys were asking me what’s the best VIP deal with all these lease deals that we get offered.
“I was advising some of the Cardiff boys for years on how to get the best deals for cars, and some boys were asking for cars you couldn’t get on the VIP scheme. They wanted all sorts like performance cars and one thing led to another.
“Boys started asking about finance and then it led me down that path, then into warranties, and then we would just meet people day to day.” he added. “Now we have got a forecourt, and we are a car dealership which buys and sells cars.”
And that wasn’t the only hobby the former flanker looked to for inspiration in finding new work. He also fuels his passion for music as a DJ, regularly playing to fans in and outside the Principality Stadium on matchdays.
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This was particularly well-received by fans in Cardiff, where Navidi etched his name in the history books as a proud servant of the club. The dreadlocked dynamo has led proceedings on the sound system at his former stomping ground, as well as helping to drum up the atmosphere outside the stadium.
DJing has given Navidi a focus outside of rugby for years. However, it wasn’t always easy to maintain his second love while juggling his rugby career.
“It’s something I really enjoy and it’s something different compared to rugby,” he told Wales Online. “Obviously when I’m fit and training it can be quite tough considering I’d finish Djing at 3am, by the time I get home it’s 3.30am, and then I’m up at 7am for training again.”
That’s one positive to be glad about now he no longer needs to worry about training on anyone else’s clock. And it’s as much a victory for the fans as well as the man himself after witnessing his turntable talents.
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