New Zealand’s Wayne Pivac has been appointed as the new head coach of Scarlets.
New Zealand’s Wayne Pivac has been appointed as the new head coach of Scarlets, the Welsh regional side announced yesterday.
Pivac only arrived as assistant coach of the club last month but will take over from Simon Easterby after the former Scarlets boss, an ex-Irish international, left the club, based in Llanelli, to become Ireland’s new forwards coach.
“Joining the Scarlets was an exciting challenge for me,” said Pivac in a club statement issued Tuesday.
“I am honoured that the Scarlets have the faith and belief in me to take the squad forward and build on the good work and solid foundations that Simon and his team have put in place.
“The supporters here are probably no different to back in New Zealand. They’re very passionate and love their rugby and really want the team to do well.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully giving them something to cheer about this season,” added Pivac, the latest New Zealander to take a key coaching role in Welsh rugby, with compatriot Warren Gatland in charge of the national side—a post previously filled by fellow-Kiwis Graham Henry and Steve Hansen.
Pivac has a lengthy track record in New Zealand domestic rugby, having been involved with Auckland for 15 years, and at international level was Fiji’s director of rugby from 2004-2006, coaching the Pacific Islanders XV and seven-a-side teams.
During his time with Fiji, the team won the 2005 Sevens World Cup.
Pivac cited the passion for rugby in Llanelli, who famously beat New Zealand 9-3 at the club’s former Stradey Park home in 1972, as a key factor in his decision to head to Wales.
“There were two factors why I chose Scarlets, the fact that Simon Easterby jumped on a ‘plane and came to New Zealand rather than a lot of talks going on for a long period of time.
“As a young boy growing up listening to the All Blacks play Llanelli in 1972 on the radio back home, I’ve never forgotten that moment.”
Last season, the Scarlets finished sixth in the Celtic League and failed to qualify out of their pool for the knockout stages of the European Cup.