The former flanker had to hang up his boots early but has already forged a couple of new careers away from the pitch
Josh Navidi has retired from rugby and started a career in the automotive industry as a car dealer in Barry(Image: Jonathan Myers)
Professional rugby can be a short career for some but Wales and Lions star Josh Navidi certainly packed in plenty during his playing years.
The Bridgend man, who won 33 caps for his country while also representing the British & Irish Lions on their 2021 tour to South Africa, has been one the most recognisable figures in Welsh rugby in recent years.
With his trademark dreadlocks, the former flanker turned out for club side Cardiff Rugby more than 180 times before he was forced to bring his stellar career to a premature end.
A neck injury on the Lions tour against the Boks brought his playing days to a conclusion, robbing Wales of one of their finest servants.
“After the specialist advised me to retire I had like a minute in the car where it hit me and I thought ‘I’m never going to go back onto that pitch’,” Navidi told WalesOnline in 2023.
“It was only a brief moment but then I snapped out of it, and I’m at peace and happy with what I’ve achieved in my career.
“My dad always said to me ‘every game could be your last’, and I always had that attitude going into games.
“It’s not as if it was a surprise. I always knew if I had one bad injury that would be it.”
Suffering the injury in the third Test, Navidi revealed the subsequent weeks saw him develop worrying symptoms that put everything in perspective for him.
He said he had no regrets over the decision, though.
“I had my bone cleared because it was pinching on the nerve in the neck,” he said.
“I’ve been having a weakness in my hand, tingling in my fingers, and loss of strength in my shoulder.
“It would also feel different to touch. The best way I can describe it is when you get pins and needles; it’s how your hand feels when it’s almost back to normal.
“It feels like it’s not your hand. I still get symptoms today now and then but it’s a lot more manageable now.
“Over Christmas we really pushed my neck rehab-wise with weights but it started to flare up. We then had to make a decision.
“It got a bit better but then I went to speak to the specialist, and he put the nail in the coffin when he said if I was still getting symptoms from doing light stuff then it’s not going to settle trying to be a professional rugby player.
“That’s when I realised I wasn’t coming back but I’m happy with everything I’ve achieved, and I’m excited about what’s to come next for me.”
Like most sportspeople, Navidi was planning for life away from the pitch even when he was still lacing up his boots. Retirement may have come a little early for the now 34-year-old but he was well prepared for the world of “ordinary” work.
He now runs a successful car dealership named Cute Club with friend Jack Wilkins, while he is also a well-respected DJ who is a regular fixture on the Cardiff night life scene. He has also performed in front of thousands at the Principality Stadium at Judgement Day.
“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 said.
“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.
“Now we have got a forecourt, and we are a car dealership which buys and sells cars. We are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, but we take appointments in the evenings, and on the weekend.”
Away from rugby and cars, his other main passion is music and he has gone on to be a familiar figure on the scene in the Welsh capital.
Shortly after he retired, he performed at the national stadium alongside a host of other DJs.
It’s clear that music offered him something different away from the sport in which he made his name.
“I did my first club set in over a year the other week which was a student night in Revs in Cardiff,” he said.
“It was nice to be back out playing there rather than just being in a house party or messing around with friends. It’s something I really enjoy and it’s something different compared to rugby.
“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.
“When I’m injured it’s easy but when I’m fit it’s tough to find time to do it because the last thing you want to do is go DJing the night before a game. I have done it after a few Wales games in the past covering for my mate.
“I remember he asked me after one Cardiff game which we lost so I put a beany on to make sure nobody recognised me!”