The 37-year-old has named himself on the bench for Bridgend Ravens this Friday night
Bridgend Ravens boss Scott Baldwin. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin has come out of retirement, naming himself on the bench for Bridgend’s Super Rygbi Cymru Cup clash with Swansea this evening.
The former Ospreys and Harlequins player is now the coach of the Ravens, having taken the job in 2024 ahead of the inaugural SRC season. The 37-year-old had hung up his boots the previous year.
However, he will dust them back off as he prepares to turn out for Bridgend at Broadacre in their final Pool B SRC Cup match.
Both clubs have already booked their place in the plate semi-finals, with the winner of Friday’s match getting the reward of a home semi-final.
With Joe Thomas on the bench for the Whites, tonight’s clash will see both clubs’ coaches take to the field.
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Baldwin will provide bench cover to starting hooker Corey Lewis, with the Ravens also welcoming back centre Ryan Wilkins.
Scrum-half Harvey Nash makes his 50th appearance for the club, while Cody-Ray David is in line for his debut.
Baldwin won 37 caps for Wales, with his Test career spanning between 2013 and 2023.
He also had two spells with the Ospreys, either side of time in England – where he played for Harlequins and Worcester Warriors.
After retiring from the game in 2023 after more than 200 senior appearances, he went into coaching.
He spent a year with Newcastle as defence coach before taking on the Bridgend job.
Whether Baldwin wants to play more remains to be seen ahead of his first foray back into the game.
Earlier this season, he played in the 745 charity game at Kingsholm.
The match was a hybrid between rugby league and rugby union, with a number of former players from both codes taking part.
The numbers reflected the jersey numbers of Rob Burrow, Ed Slater and Doddie Weir – who were all diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease after retiring from rugby.