NSW Waratahs sign former Wallaby Nathan Grey as defensive coach

FORMER Test and NSW centre Nathan Grey is leaving the Melbourne Rebels to return to the Waratahs as their Super Rugby defence coach.

Nathan Grey

FORMER Test and NSW centre Nathan Grey is leaving the Melbourne Rebels to return to the Waratahs as their Super Rugby defence coach.

Grey spent the past three seasons assisting at the Rebels under head coach Damien Hill, who was recently replaced by ex-Wallabies coaching coordinator Tony McGahan.

A hard-tackling centre who earned 35 Wallabies caps, Grey followed a long playing career with the Waratahs with a five-year stint playing and coaching with Japanese side Kyuden.

NSW coach Michael Cheika said he felt Grey was a perfect fit for his side.

"Nathan has 94 caps for NSW as a player and eight years of great experience as a coach in different countries, putting him well on the way to fulfilling the criteria of the man we were looking for,'' Cheika said.

"Combine that with him being an outstanding performer as a player for state and country in the areas that he will oversee, and it was difficult to find a better person for the job.''

After making his NSW debut in 1997, Grey went on to become the state's most capped centre.

His seven-year international career saw him lift the Webb Ellis Cup as part of the 1999 World Cup-winning team.