Western Mail

IS TODAY THE DAY PIVAC LANDS THE WALES JOB?

- ANTHONY WOOLFORD Rugby writer anthony.woolford@walesonlin­e.co.uk

WAYNE Pivac is the favourite to replace Warren Gatland as head coach of Wales following the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

It is understood that the Welsh Rugby Union could make an announceme­nt as early as today.

The Mail on Sunday report the Scarlets supremo has usurped fellow Kiwi Dave Rennie as the front-runner to be as named Gatland’s successor this summer.

The Welsh Rugby Union are said to be at an advanced stage in the interview process

Rennie and Pivac were thought to be the only names in the frame to take the Welsh reins but last month WRU chairman Gareth Davies and chief executive Martyn Phillips said there were more than two candidates.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson was a name being linked with the Welsh job, but he’s thought to be happy in New Zealand in charge of the Super Rugby high-flyers.

Last month he said of the Welsh link: “I suppose that is part of the coaching job, when a new job comes up your name is going to be bandied around.

“Like I said it (the speculatio­n) is flattering.

“But no, I have not heard anything – I am happy here.”

With Robertson set to rule himself out of the running, the Mail claim Pivac is the main candidate with his appointmen­t being uncomplica­ted given his current role with the Scarlets.

Should the WRU go with Pivac, the New Zealander is likely to bring backs boss Stephen Jones with him. That would be a massive plus for the WRU as they look at succession planning.

Under Pivac and Jones, the Scarlets have been the Welsh regional standard bearer in recent seasons. They won the Guinness PRO crown in 2017 and made the final last season, as well as the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup.

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