Auckland coach Wayne Pivac has become the latest in a growing number of New Zealamd mentors who are heading to Europe.
The Scarlets announced that Pivac will join them as an assistant coach at Parc y Scarlets next season, to further strengthen the set-up in West Wales.
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Pivac, who has been involved with Auckland for an impressive 15 years (since November 1998), also led Fiji as Director of Rugby for the national side from 2004-2006 – coaching both the 15-a-side and Sevens teams, including through a World Cup.
During his time with Fiji, the Sevens team won the 2005 World Cup.
He was head coach of Northland Rugby Union, earning them promotion in his first season at the helm in 1997. He won three provincial titles during his tenure with Auckland – with back-to-back provincial titles in New Zealand in 2002 and 2003.
He was named NZRU Coach of the Year in 2003.
Pivac has been head coach of all three provincial teams in the Blues region – Auckland, North Harbour and Northland, as well as his international head coaching post for Fiji.
In 2011, Pivac succeeded the now Ulster head coach Marc Anscombe, as Auckland coach in the NPC.
Scarlets head coach Simon Easterby said: “We are delighted that Wayne Pivacis joining our set-up at Parc y Scarlets next season. His broad level of experience across national coaching, Sevens and expertise as a proven forwards coach, particularly in the breakdown area, will strengthen our coaching team here and give a wider dimension to our rugby group.
“His breath of experience across the game set him apart from others and we look forward to his input working alongside myself, Mark Jones, specialist scrum coach Danny Wilson and our kicking coach Mark Tainton.”
“We took our time and looked carefully in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for someone we believed would fit in well,compliment the skills and knowledge we already have and really add something new to the Scarlets going forward next season.”
Easterby, who flew out to New Zealand recently to finalise Pivac’s move to West Wales added: “He comes highly recommended to us from the players and fellow coaches that we have spoken to and I was able to spend some time with him in New Zealand and his coaching credentials on paper matched up with what I saw in person.
“This is a very exciting appointment for the Scarlets, and for us as a coaching group – bringing in someone new to join us with fresh ideas, ambition and a wealth of experience. I am looking forward to working closely with Wayne and I am sure he will work well with our group of players and fit in quickly with life here at Parc y Scarlets.”
Scarlets Chief Executive Mark Davies said: “We have been building a stronger squad over the past three years with a more dominant pack as well as strengthening key positions in the backs. Equally we have invested in a creating a powerful blend of experience, passion for the Region, knowledge and ambition in our coaching group and this latest appointment represents serious investment in the skills we need to succeed.”
Pivac said of joining the Scarlets: “I have been lucky to have been head coach of four very proud unions during my career in New Zealand as well as the experience of being national coach for Fiji.
“I know that in joining the Scarlets I will be part of another very passionate region, with demands and expectation of the team from all those who support the Scarlets and I look forward to working alongside what is clearly a very committed, able and driven coaching team at Parc y Scarlets.
“I hope I can bring something positive to the mix; the region has a strong core of talented and experienced international players as well as some impressive youngsters coming through in both the pack and the backs.”
“I’m excited by the challenge and want to add to good work that Simon, Mark, Danny and the backroom team are already doing to help the players reach their maximum potential on the field and bring success to the Region as a whole – both on the big stage in Europe and in the domestic league.”