Baldwin still glad he headed to Falcons

Jon Newcombe talks to Newcastle’s new defence coach and finds a man who is certain he has made the right decision

- Jon Newcombe

WHEN news came through that Ken Owens had pulled out of Wales’ World Cup squad due to a back injury, Scott Baldwin could have been forgiven for thinking ‘what if ?’ But Baldwin, a Test-quality hooker less than four months ago, is 100 per cent happy with his decision to retire from playing and become Newcastle’s defence coach.

Baldwin, who turns 35 in a fortnight’s time, is one week into his new job and whilst admitting he is still finding his feet, the Welshman is excited about the challenge that lays ahead as part of Alex Codling’s coaching team.

“I know how fortunate I am to have the opportunity I have to be working with the coach I am in the Premiership which is an unbelievable league,” Baldwin told The Rugby Paper. “It is ruthless but it is brilliant, this is where I want to cut my teeth. I always said I want to coach in the Premiership and that is nothing against the URC but I feel like the Premiership is where you can become a great coach.”

Baldwin knows what a great coach looks likes and sounds like having worked with some of the best, including Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards with Wales and the like of Steve Tandy, Nick Evans and Toby Booth in club rugby.

“Working with Nick at Harlequins really opened my eyes to how many ways there are to skin a cat but also how simple the game is,” he said. “I think back to someone like Shaun and how simple he made it for you. When you are in a game and fatigued you don’t have time to think of X, Y and Z. That really resonated with me.”