The new life of John Mulvihill, the Cardiff coach who went through an 'angry period' after Arms Park exit

Some 18 months on from his abrupt departure from the Arms Park, John Mulvihill is back coaching Cardiff players.

He’s doing so in the world famous colours of the Barbarians, who he is in charge of for Saturday evening’s encounter with Spain in the city of Gijon on the Bay of Biscay.

In a nod to his two and half years at the helm in the Welsh capital, the Aussie has selected five players he worked with there in Rey Lee Lo, James Botham, Scott Andrews, Kirby Myhill and Owen Lane. Since parting company with the then Blues, he has been employed in Russia, first with the national team and then CSKA Moscow, which has seen him operating against the backdrop of events in Ukraine for the past four months. But he still retains a home in Cardiff and sees that as his long-term base.

Today's rugby news as Alun Wyn Jones' team-mates baffled by 'crazy' questions over him

When we catch up for a chat, I find him in bubbly mood, enjoying the unique mix of rugby and socialising that the BaaBaas offers. But things were very different back in January 2021, amid his premature departure from the Arms Park following a home defeat to the Ospreys on New Year’s Eve. He admits it was a tough time and that he went through an “angry period” following his exit.

“You look back and think would I have done things a little bit differently and there are probably one or two things I could have done better. Probably the trust factor is something. I am really trusting in people and maybe that’s something I need to re-think in that environment,” he said.

“I think I give everyone the benefit of the doubt and I probably wouldn’t be as hard a taskmaster as other people. When my wife meets someone for the first time, she can tell me straight up if they are