Outside-half Ceri Sweeney will leave Exeter Chiefs at the end of the season to return to the club for whom he made his professional debut back in 1998. The 35-year-old earned 35 caps at outside-half for Wales after rising with the regional game.
He burst onto the scene with the now defunct Celtic Warriors before enjoying spells at the Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues. But as his career reaches the final furlong, Sweeney is hoping to undertake some coaching as well as showcasing his playing skills.
Sweeney helped nurture England prospect Henry Slade at Sandy Park, and he is hoping to do the same with emerging talent at his old stomping ground.
He said: “Ponty have got some good youngsters and I don’t want to be taking their game-time. I have to be realistic, I’m 35. I’m not coming back to play every week although I do want to play some matches. The big thing is for me to work closely with and help the youngsters.
“I had two fabulous years there but it’s time to go home to Ponty. It’s where it started for me and I’d like to give something back. I’d like to work on the attacking side of the game, building game plans and looking at ways to unlock opposition defences.”
The Glyncoch product first joined up with Pontypridd in 1998 providing competition for the No.10 shirt to the likes of Neil Jenkins and Fiji international Nicky Little, making 92 appearances and scoring 325 points.
Having been capped by Wales at Youth and under 21 levels, Sweeney made his senior international bow in 2003 as a replacement against Italy. He went on to score 88 points.
