Baugh, who has been in Cardiff for 13 years, will start with Wales on Monday as they get ready to take on the Barbarians in preparation for this year's World Cup.

The popular Canadian became a hit with fans during his playing days, with his ferocious tackling and whole hearted displays appreciated by all those that saw him play.

Speaking of his early days with Cardiff RFC, Dan said,

"I first came over after Gwyn Jones suffered that dreadful injury, breaking his neck, which forced him to retire from the game."

"Canada were over in Buenos Aires playing a World Cup qualifier at the time."

"We'd played against Wales the year before and I'd met John Humphreys and he called the Canadian team up in Argentina and explained the situation, so I came over on a season trial and I signed at the end of it in 1997."

Baugh's playing career ended with an injury to his foot in 2005 and he soon crossed over to coaching.

"I didn't want to leave the environment and the team if possible," added Baugh.

"It's like a security blanket. I think for most people who leave the game they think, what do I do now?"

""I was fortunate that I had a working background and I could have gone back to the restaurant industry, but I didn't want to do that unless I had to."

"At the time I didn't have the credentials to work in conditioning but I had the opportunity to work in a defensive role and moved to conditioning the year after."

"I had attained my level three badges I'd done through the Union. I found that I really struggled in my first year as a coach. It was baptism by fire and I was thrown into it, but it was probably the best thing for me."

"It was a real eye opener about the pressures involved in coaching and being accountable for stats and things happening in the game. That fist year probably gave me the incentive to go back to school and get my Masters Degree"

Baugh had played with Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby David Young and it was Young who gave him his first opportunity in a coaching role,

"Dai Young is nothing if not straight."

"He can be a difficult man to work for, but never with, you soon realise it's for your own benefit."

"If you have a bad session as a coach, you don't have to wait for the players to tell you, Dai will tell you straight away."

"He's very hard on his coaches in this way but I'm certainly a better coach for that."

"I think that it's good that Dai is so hard. He's setting a standards you have to reach which obviously puts you in good stead for the future."

The transition from defensive coach to conditioning coach was one that Baugh relished,

"I was always fit when I was playing and loved my conditioning and training."

"My injury was actually from overtraining on different surfaces."

"It was natural for me to go into that role and a big part of what I'm trying to do is to use the science behind the conditioning and applying it to the game."

"Even since I retired in 2005 the game has changed. The players are bigger and the game is a lot quicker, the ELV's have really changed the whole dimension of the game."

"The ball in play time has increased dramatically which means you have to change everything. Everyone from one to fifteen has to be able to attack, counter attack and get around the pitch, there's no hiding place."

"It changes the dynamic of the game and what physical attributes you look for in a player."

Speaking of his new role with the WRU, Baugh said,

"When Craig White left, everybody was aware that there might be a vacancy with the union. The coaching market is just as competitive as the playing market so I'm sure that people involved in conditioning were aware of the potential opportunity."

"I didn't apply for the job but there was an opportunity to help during the 2011 Six Nations campaign, and I'm grateful for the Blues allowing me to do that."

"It went well and I was offered a job at the end of the season."

"I have done some work with Canada in the past helping out when they have been touring in Europe, but never in an official capacity."

"It all starts with the Wales match against the Barbarians next week, so it will be interesting to be facing Dai."

"We then have the warm up games against England and Argentina and have a two camps in Poland during the summer in preparation to get it right for September and October."

"I'm very excited about the new role."

"I've been at the Blues and Cardiff for a long time and really enjoyed working with the team."

"Obviously Dai Young has played a huge part in my career and I'd like to thank him for giving me the opportunity to coach."

"We played together and he gave me my first opportunity after my playing days were over. I can't thank him enough for his guidance in my first few years of coaching. The professional game is probably not the best place to cut your teeth and his support those first few years really helped me stick with it."

"Like I said, he was hard on me as a coach but it's put me in good stead, I'm confident now going forward with any role that I take."

"I'd also like to thank Bob Norster and everyone at the Blues for all they have done for me. They've been great to me over the years. Much as I'm looking forward to the role with the Wales I will miss the people at the Blues."