Moon: Wales must retain coaching talent
SCARLETS legend Rupert Moon has told the WRU they can’t afford to let Rob Howley and Robin McBryde leave Welsh rugby.
Howley and McBryde have been part of Wales boss Warren Gatland’s backroom team for the past 12 years but will not be involved after the World Cup with incoming head coach Wayne Pivac recently appointing Stephen Jones and Jonathan Humphreys.
Given their success at international level both coaches are bound to attract plenty of interest but Moon insists it is crucial they are kept in Wales.
“The bit I’m mystified by is what conversations have happened with Rob Howley and Robin McBryde because they’ve been an integral part of the most successful decade in Welsh rugby history,” said former Wales scrumhalf Moon, below.
“They’ve helped develop more players than we ever have so where do they figure in Welsh rugby’s plans? You’d like to think that discussions with those two coaches have been happening. “Both have been head coaches with Wales and won so I’d be shocked if they were allowed to leave Wales. I was working for the WRU when both Robin started and the mantra was we need to keep good coaches in the system. “We can’t afford to lose coaches of their quality.”
Scarlets having appointed Crusaders coach Brad Mooar to replace Pivac and Moon, who played nearly 300 games for Llanelli, believes Mooar should turn to home grown coaches as his assistants.
He said: “I don’t know Brad Mooar but I’ve looked at his CV and he’s been in some tough places. It looks like he’s earnt his stripes a bit like Wayne Pivac did so he’s got the credentials but what he’s got around him is critical.
“I’d like to see him appoint someone who has played for the club before like McBryde or Mark Jones.”