Scarlets plan to prosper through New Zealand link
THE Scarlets are hoping a unique partnership with the New Zealand Rugby Union can help push them to new heights.
When head coach Brad Mooar left last year, just three months into his three-year contract, to take up a dream role with the All Blacks, Scarlets negotiated an elite performance partnership with the Kiwis as part of the compensation package.
The relationship with New Zealand is headed up by Scarlets general manager Jon Daniels.
“It looks at ways we can bounce ideas off each other and come up with provoking thoughts and innovations that might take things forward,” said Daniels, right.
“It’s a critical friend type approach, looking at what we do and maybe suggesting new ideas. I’d like to also think they might take something from us.”
Scarlets have always had a strong connection to New Zealand having famously beaten the touring All Blacks at Stradey Park in 1972.
Kiwis such as Frano Botica, Regan King, and Kees Meeuws have played in Llanelli where there remains a strong Kiwi presence with head coach Glenn Delaney, scrum coach Ben Franks and board member Sean Fitzpatrick.
The west Walians are one of two European clubs who have a formal relationship with the NZRU. Harlequins are the other and recently sent England centre Joe Marchant on loan to Auckland Blues.
Scarlets are hoping to send some of their younger talent to the Mitre 10 Cup. “That’s absolutely something that is possible,” said Daniels. “Getting players opportunities out in New Zealand, be it Mitre 10 or even club rugby, is something which will add greatly to the development of our best young talent. “It would be a great rugby experience for them, but also in terms of life experience they’ll come back and probably be a more rounded and mature individual. “Being a professional athlete, it can be difficult to get real life experiences so the ability in a managed and controlled way to get players out there is a definite plus and something we have discussed with New Zealand. The same opportunities exist for us to get staff down there and for the New Zealand Rugby Union to have staff come up and work with us.
“Those are the concepts being fleshed out at the moment.”
Daniels adds: “What we are looking to do is take it another step forward and have a more structured format without losing the ability for people to pick up the phone and have a chat.
“Our business is about performance and making people better whether they are on the field or off it.”