Griffiths who has coached Harris in both codes was in a reflective mood, following Harris's revelation yesterday that he would end his union career short after three and a half years.

" Rugby league has been in Iestyn's blood since he was knee high, but once he had signed for rugby union in Wales, there was always the clause in his contract that said he would return to league," said Griffiths.

" He has had a look at union and fulfilled a childhood dream to play union for Wales. Iestyn had also wanted to play for the British Lions in league and union. He did it in league before coming to Wales, but the fact that he has now foregone the ultimate dream to get on that British Lions tour next summer shows he is determined to make a second go of it in league.

Griffiths who himself was capped by Wales at both union and league believes that Harris has forgone an international career in the fifteen man game, in which in his mind, he looked on the verge of developing into something special.

" I have no doubt he will do that. People said he would not make it union, but he has played on the biggest stage in the 2003 World Cup and acquitted himself very, very well as far as I am concerned.

" The only thing is that he would have got better and better had he stayed in union. People will wonder 'what if' about what would have happened had Iestyn stayed in union - and so Iestyn will deep down.

" But this is something Iestyn feels very, very strongly about and the bottom line is that the call to arms to him or rugby league was too strong for him to refuse."

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