Wayne Pivac: Scarlets head coach signs new contract

Wayne Pivac was 2003 New Zealand RU coach of the year

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has signed a new two-year contract to stay at the Pro14 club.

The New Zealander joined Scarlets in 2014, succeeding Simon Easterby, and led them to the Pro12 title in 2016-17.

His contract was due to expire at the end of the current campaign but his new deal will keep him at Parc y Scarlets until at least the end of 2019-20.

"We've done a lot of work to get the team to where we are and it's a project that isn't finished yet," said Pivac.

"We're at stage one of a two-stage process if you like. We're now competitive in the Pro14, we knew it would take three years plus to be knocking on the door to win the championship.

"The next step is to be competitive in Europe on a regular basis. I think the last two weeks have shown that when we get our top side out there we are very competitive."

Scarlets have lost both their Champions Cup matches this season, by a point in Toulon and 18-13 at home against Bath after a five-day turnaround between matches.

"We've had a few key international level players missing, and I class [flanker] James Davies in that category. The John Barclays of the world, the Rob Evanses and we've come so close," said Pivac.

"So I think we're not far off. But the depth across the team can be a little bit stronger and that's the next stage for us to get to.

"That's really the discussions I've had about taking us to the next level, and to do that we've got to have a certain amount of funding to be able to retain the players we've got and also to be able to strengthen the squad where we believe we need to strengthen it to get those results in Europe on a regular basis.

"And I want to see that through, but you've got to have the budgets and resources to work with and that's what we've dealing with behind the scenes.

"I think we're pretty close to being able to say what we're doing forward going forward."

International ambition

Pivac has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Wales coach Warren Gatland who leaves his role after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

But the former Fiji national coach says his focus is building on the Scarlets' recent success.

"I've only just signed this contract and in the middle of a project here at the Scarlets and it's one I want to see through," he added.

"First and foremost we have to get to the completion of this contract and see how that goes in terms of have we achieved the goals we've set for ourselves and we'll worry about the future after that.

"At the moment the eyes are firmly fixed on the Scarlets.

"I love it here, the people are great it's a place I really enjoy. I live locally, 10 minutes from the stadium and it suits me down to the ground.

"I'm loving life here."