Josh Navidi, the former Wales and Cardiff back-rower, has been awarded a testimonial year, more than three years after a neck injury forced him to retire from rugby at the age of 32. The 35-year-old, who earned 33 caps for Wales and spent his entire club career with Cardiff, is now building a new life with his wife Ellé, combining business ventures with DJing and family life.
Speaking to WalesOnline at their home in Llantwit Major, Navidi and Ellé opened up about the transition from professional sport, the serious neck injury that ended his career, and the life they have built since.
A Busy Life After Rugby
Navidi admits that retirement has not meant slowing down. “Life is a lot busier now than when I was playing,” he said. “Everything's done for you when it comes to time management, I think that's the massive adjustment.”
Since retiring, he has launched Navidi's Bar, a pop-up bar, and works as a DJ in Cardiff, with gigs at festivals, rugby clubs and corporate events. He also has a pink mobile bar and plans to add a new, easier-to-tow bar with a DJ booth on top.
Ellé, who runs her own PR and marketing business, said retirement has been positive. “After rugby you worry a bit about your partner and how they're going to cope with the retirement and adjusting to a new type of life, whereas actually he just picked up the things he was enjoying as a hobby while playing and really turned it into a positive.”
The Neck Injury That Ended His Career
Navidi suffered a serious neck injury during Wales' tour of South Africa in 2022. Despite surgery and rehabilitation, he never fully recovered and announced his retirement the following year.
Ellé described watching him go through the aftermath. “When he had surgery on his neck, that was soul-destroying to watch,” she said. “I think that's the worst you've ever had to deal with.”
The injury came at a time when the couple were thinking about starting a family. “I know we were thinking about having a family and what life was going to look like for us,” Ellé said. “It gets to a point where that might be taken away.”
Navidi ultimately accepted that his career was over, but he looks back with pride. “Winning my first cap was a special moment and I'll always remember being in the changing rooms after the 2019 Grand Slam game against Ireland,” he said.
A Testimonial Year With Purpose
Navidi's testimonial year begins with a Beaujolais Day celebration at the Principality Stadium on November 19, followed by events including golf days, padel tournaments and Q&A sessions at local rugby clubs. He will use the year to raise money for the Maxwell Family Genomics Fund and other charities.
For Ellé, a memory that stands out came after he had stopped playing professionally, at a touch rugby festival at the Arms Park, where their daughter saw her dad run around a pitch for the first time.
“She was on the side shouting, ‘Run, Daddy, run’, she was so excited watching him run around the pitch,” Ellé said. “That was so special for us because she never got to see him when he was playing.”
