Hayward poised to join Wales set-up
THE Scarlets have confirmed their defence coach Byron Hayward will leave at the end of the season.
Hayward is expected to be announced as part of Wayne Pivac’s new Wales backroom staff, where he will wok alongside Shaun Edwards as one of two defence gurus.
He would join Pivac and Scarlets backs coach Stephen Jones in the Welsh set-up after the 2019 World Cup when Warren Gatland steps down.
Former fly-half Hayward joined the region’s coaching team in 2014 and played his part in the Guinness PRO12 title triumph in 2017 and reaching the PRO14 final and the semi-finals of the Champions Cup last season.
Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said: “Byron has been a hugely respected member of our coaching team over the past five years.
“There was a lot said about our attacking game when we won the championship a couple of years ago, but our defence was an integral part of that success.
“We wish him well in his next post.”
Meanwhile, Will Boyde is among four players to be leaving the Scarlets at the end of the season.
The talented back-rower will be joined through the Parc y Scarlets exit door by locks David Bulbring and Tom Price and scrum-half Declan Smith.
Boyde, 24, leaves after five seasons with his home region.
He was capped by Wales at under-20 level and made his Scarlets debut as a replacement against Cardiff Blues in December 2014.
He was a member of the squad who clinched the Guinness PRO12 title in Dublin in 2017, but the presence of Wales international James Davies and the emergence of Dan Davis has counted against him.
South African Bulbring, who is in his fourth season at Parc y Scarlets, figured off the bench in the title win over Munster two years ago and played a key role in the march to the semifinals of the European Champions Cup last term.
Former England Under-20s international Price made his Scarlets debut in August 2015.
He has agreed a two-year deal with Exeter Chiefs.
Scrum-half Smith has played 12 matches in Scarlets colours since making his debut in a pre-season encounter against the Chiefs three years ago.
Daniels added: “The demands of professional rugby mean we have had to make some tough decisions.
“Unfortunately, we will be saying goodbye to players who have been excellent professionals and valued members of our squad who have played their part in our success over recent seasons.
“In an ideal world we would have liked to have kept everyone here at Parc y Scarlets, but that has not been possible.
“When running a business there are some difficult decisions you would rather not make.
“We would like to wish Will, David, Tom and Declan the best in their future rugby careers and maybe we will see them back here at Parc y Scarlets one day.”