Mooar has no regrets departing top franchise

No matter how the coaching cards fall in the coming months, Brad Mooar is at ease with his decision to leave the Crusaders for a head coaching role in Wales next year.

Before signing a three-year deal with Scarlets, the 44-year-old assistant played out a bunch of scenarios in his head, which included the possibility of the Crusaders needing to replace Scott Robertson after the 2019 Super Rugby season.

Robertson, who like his three assistants – Mooar, Jason Ryan and Ronan O’Gara – is offcontract after 2019, and has made it clear he isn’t ready to make his next move until after All Blacks coach Steve Hansen signals whether or not he wants to stick around post World Cup.

‘‘I think the critical word in your question is ‘potential’,’’ Mooar said when asked if the chance to coach the Crusaders from 2020 played a part in his planning. "There’s a lot of ducks that would need to line up for that to happen. The current role of Steve’s [Hansen] needs to be vacated for a starter, and then the whole process of appointment through the All Blacks, which from all accounts is not going to be something that would happen, if it’s going to happen, until November in post-World Cup anyway.’’

Mooar, and wife Anna, having realised ‘‘it was pretty clear what was the right decision’’, decided they would move to Wales, ensuring Mooar replaces fellow Kiwi Wayne Pivac.

The former lawyer will depart in August, after his fourth season with the Christchurch-based franchise. He was brought in by former coach Todd Blackadder in

2016, initially working as a defence coach.

Since Robertson took over in

2017, he’s predominantly worked with the inside backs, and been charged with leading the team’s attack, strategy and game planning.

Mooar didn’t go ‘‘fishing’’ for the Scarlets job, and discussed what the future might look like with the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby during the sixweek process which resulted in him nabbing the job former Canterbury coach Rob Penney was recently linked to.

‘‘Those conversations are real. But even if the [Crusaders] head coaching role is vacant, it doesn’t make you a sitter for the role,’’ Mooar said.

‘‘They [Crusaders] understand that it’s a bloody hard place to leave. It’s a great setup, there’s some awesome people doing some great things, and you make really good friends.’’

Mooar is sure he’ll one-day return home.