RUGBY
Pivac to succeed Gatland as Wales rugby coach
Wayne Pivac will take over from Warren Gatland as head coach of Wales after next year's Rugby World Cup.
Wayne Pivac will succeed Warren Gatland as Wales head coach after next year's Rugby World Cup, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced on Monday.
New Zealander Pivac has been the Scarlets' boss since 2014, masterminding a Guinness Pro12 title last year and securing passage into the semi-finals of the Champions Cup.
"In Wayne Pivac, we have secured the best man for the job and we have done so rigorously and decisively to the collective benefit of all involved in Welsh rugby," WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips declared.
"Both Wayne and Warren and their coaching teams, our international players, supporters and everyone at the Scarlets now have clarity and there is no underestimating the positive benefit to be gained from having the time to plan properly for the future.
"We have avoided the feeding frenzy that can come at the end of a World Cup year and we have been meticulous in ensuring we have someone of the talent, experience, charisma and rugby acumen to do the very best possible job for Welsh rugby."
Some big shoes to fill
Pivac will continue to lead the Scarlets for their 2018/19 campaign before leaving to take over from Gatland, Wales' longest serving and most successful coach, who has already announced that he will bring his reign to an end after 12 years on the job.
Over a dozen years, Gatland won the Six Nations Championship in 2008 and 2012 and managed 52 victories in 105 matches with the Wales rugby team.
"I know I’m following in the footsteps of someone who is held in extremely high regard, not only by the Welsh public but also by the players who have played under him," Pivac said.
"I will be doing my best to protect the legacy which Warren Gatland, with the help of those players, will inevitably leave behind. It will be an almighty challenge, but one that I’m more than ready for and one that I will relish."
Pivac, who has previously coached the Fiji national team, will start to assemble his backroom staff as soon as he completes his responsibilities with the Scarlets next summer.