Then came the call that reminded him why he started his rugby journey more than a decade ago. On the other end of the phone was Wests coach Craig Robberds to see if Kimlin was ready to jump back in the deep end, this time as a coach.

"When it comes down to it, it's all about enjoyment," Kimlin said.

"In the last two years of playing in Japan I sort of lost that love, so I knew [retirement] was coming. It all came to a head this year and I decided I'd had enough.

"I had a chance to stay in Japan or go back to Europe, but the time had come when I didn't want to push it any more and I was happy to finish up.

"Thankfully my wife, my kids and my family were happy I was making the right decision and I think I have. I'm pretty happy at the moment.

"And to be back at Wests ... when you're experience that enjoyment and see your mates, that comes through. It's great to come back and be involved again, but I'm still learning some of the names."

Kimlin will be coaching for the first time when Wests attempt to end the Gungahlin Eagles' unbeaten start to the John I Dent Cup season when they play at Jamison Oval on Saturday.

MORE RUGBY NEWS

The 33-year-old has stepped into an assistant coach's role to help out Robberds after work commitments forced the club's lineout mentor to limit his involvement.

Kimlin, who played two Tests for the Wallabies, initially planned to take a full step back from rugby this year to adjust to life after 12 years of playing for the Brumbies and in England, France and Japan.

Kimlin and Robberds teamed up in the Wests' premiership-winning first grade side in 2005, but they're the last remaining links to the club's last John I Dent Cup title.

"It's great to see some real fresh faces coming through and there's some great success in ACT rugby," Kimlin said.

"I said to Wests at the start of the year I was more than happy to come in and help out whenever to give back to the Wests community.

"A couple of weeks ago they asked if I could come on board. I never had any intention to go into coaching ... but I'm more than happy to help for the rest of the season."

Kimlin left the Brumbies at the end of 2013 after helping the club reach the Super Rugby grand final. He moved to France to join Grenoble and then finished his career in Japan with the Toyota Shokki.

Now he has a new challenge as Wests aim to get back into the ACT rugby finals this year and break their premiership drought.

Brumbies winger Chance Peni will play for Wests, while the high-flying Eagles have been bolstered by the inclusion of prop Tom Ross and fullback Mack Hansen.

"At times we've played some really good rugby ... week to week we've got a lot more depth and the guys coming in have the responsibility to step up. I think we're getting closer to a complete 80 minutes," said Eagles coach Marco Caputo.

In other matches, back-rower Lachlan McCaffrey will make his comeback from a knee injury when he plays for Queanbeyan in the clash against the Uni-Norths Owls.

JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND EIGHT

Saturday: Wests v Gungahlin Eagles at Jamison Oval, Royals v Easts at Phillip Oval, Uni-Norths Owls v Queanbeyan Whites at ANU North. All games at 3.05pm.