By Steffan Thomas

Copyright walesonline

Finding a way to keep intellectual property in Welsh rugby has been a priority of the Welsh Rugby Union’s for quite some time. A golden generation of Welsh rugby players who experienced unbelievable highs have hung up their boots over the past few years and should have so much to give back to the game in this country. As Welsh rugby begins its most extensive rebuilding process since 2003 there is no doubt players who have only recently retired can play a significant role in developing the next generation of Wales internationals. Here are a handful of players from the golden generation who will have a key role to play in Welsh rugby coaching circles moving forward. The 36-year-old was one of the most dedicated, professional and technically proficient players ever to have represented Wales or the Lions. Halfpenny was always destined for a career in professional coaching having participated in the Welsh Rugby Union’s inaugural player- to-coach programme in 2019. The 101-times-capped Wales international took his first steps on the senior coaching ladder this summer when he was given the role of skills coach for the two-Test tour of Japan, focusing on kicking. Halfpenny has recently been helping his old club Cardiff. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. “He’s got a big affinity to Cardiff because it was his first club and he’s trying to get into coaching,” said Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt. “He’s carrying a little bit of a niggle at the moment, so I’ve asked him to come in and we can get him up to speed and get him fit. “Then, whilst he’s doing that, he’s been great in working with some of our young players and kickers to develop their goal-kicking and kicking out of hand. “So we’re helping Leigh out and he’s helping us out. It’s great to have him around.” Halfpenny hasn’t officially retired from playing yet and was set to join French PRO D2 outfit AS Béziers Hérault but the move fell through. The former Wales backrower is one of the most naturally gifted players ever to represent his country. Tipuric was one of the most intelligent rugby players of his generation and was faster in thought than the majority of players in world rugby, let alone Wales. If someone had to choose one international player from the past decade who would stand a chance of transitioning into a world-class coach it’s a good bet Tipuric would be at the top of the list. Tipuric is the Ospreys’ new defence coach having hung up his boots at the end of last season. “Coaches are often selfless and have to put the team first and Justin’s attributes and personality reflect that,” former Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said last September. “He will get the buy-in for who he is and what he has got. “The challenge for any player that becomes a coach is you have to learn how to articulate ideas and display your presentation skills. “The only way you do that is by time in the saddle. He has experience around him and his head coach Mark Jones has that defensive emphasis and will support him in that way. “We are hopeful it won’t all be dumped on to Justin as the defence coach. Modern coaching is about a team approach and he will be in an environment that will allow him to grow at the right tempo.” The 37-year-old retired from playing last April after 334 professional appearances for the Scarlets and Cardiff , while he also won 13 caps for Wales. Turnbull has moved into coaching and is heavily involved within the Welsh rugby pathway. When Sam Warburton addressed Cardiff Rugby’s senior academy squad last August he made the point of singling out Josh Turnbull as one of the best professionals he’d ever played with. If you want to make it as a professional rugby player Turnbull is the perfect role model, was Warburton’s message. Turnbull is busy moulding the next generation of Cardiff players. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The west Walian has been head of the junior academy at Cardiff while he is also a member of the Cardiff RFC coaching team. He has also recently worked as a defence and contact area coach for Wales U18s. The larger-than-life former Wales second-row has taken a big step forward in his career this summer having been added to Dwayne Peel’s backroom team at the Scarlets. Davies has worked hard to climb up the Welsh rugby coaching ladder and has been an academy coach at the Ospreys . The 66-times-capped second-row has also been a coach at Bridgend RFC in the Welsh Premiership and Super Rygbi Cymru. Davies will be assisting forwards coach Albert van den Berg and has already made a positive impact within the squad and coaching team. The former Wales playmaker officially called time on his playing career yesterday and has been appointed kicking coach at the Dragons. Patchell won 22 caps for Wales and also enjoyed a successful club career representing Cardiff, Scarlets, the Highlanders and Japanese outfit NEC Green Rockets. The 32-year-old was an extremely intelligent rugby player and is one of the game’s best thinkers. Patchell will be working with the likes of Angus O’Brien, Harri Ford, Cai Evans and Jac Lloyd at the Dragons. The 37-year-old retired from playing last season and is now one of the most promising young coaches in Welsh rugby. Lydiate enjoyed a stellar coaching career winning 72 caps for Wales along with representing the British & Irish Lions on their tour of Australia in 2013. He is a part of Filo Tiatia’s backroom team at the Dragons and is the breakdown coach at the Gwent based club. Lydiate will be working closely with some of the most promising backrow talents in Wales in the shape of Ryan Woodman and Harry Beddall. The former Wales hooker is another extremely intelligent young coach and could be described as a rugby nause. Those who have worked with Baldwin describe the 37-year-old as a very detailed coach who thinks outside the box and is an excellent man-manager. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Baldwin has worked hard climbing up the coaching ladder having held coaching roles at Worcester and Newcastle. He is now head coach of Bridgend Ravens in the SRC and is responsible for developing some of the brightest young talent in the Ospreys region.