Former Wales international Hayward joins Scarlets coaching team

The Scarlets have announced that Byron Hayward will join the new-look coaching team as Defence Coach.

The former Llanelli and Wales international will take up his new role, working with new Head Coach Wayne Pivac and the coaching team at Parc y Scarlets in time for the start of the season.

Hayward, 45, has a wealth of coaching experience having coached Ebbw Vale, Sale Sharks, Dragons regional age grade sides and most recently Wales Under 20 as he took over the reins from Scarlets Scrum Coach Danny Wilson. He has joined the Scarlets from the Welsh Rugby Union where his role was National Academy Skills Coach, developing players both technically and tactically.

An accomplished player at fly half, Hayward represented Wales on two occasions and won the league with Llanelli in 1999. On retiring he had scored a then joint record 2535 league points.

Blaina boy Hayward said: "It's nice to be back at the top end of rugby and back into week to week intense high level rugby. When you come into the professional game it's relentless and quite challenging at times as I found out in the Premiership with Sale but that's what I'm looking forward to.

"It's also great to be back here with the Scarlets. I was fortunate enough to play under Gareth (Jenkins) and played alongside Simon (Easterby) and Mark (Jones). I enjoyed every minute I had when I was here as a player and I'm sure it'll be the same when I'm coaching.

"I've been really encouraged from what I've seen from the players already, they are hard-working and it's evident they play for each other. I'll be looking to build on the good work that Simon has done to strengthen the mind set on our game without the ball and be a top quality defensive side.

"Llanelli and Scarlets rugby is known throughout the world. When I played here people here treated me really well and were very receptive. Those things and those memories are still fresh in my mind and they had a massive impact on my decision to come here and be a part of the coaching team.

"People here are so passionate about rugby and Scarlets rugby and I'm excited to be a part of a determined and passionate coaching group. We (Llanelli) managed to win the league in 1999; those things, as a player, stick in your mind forever and I want to do the same thing and win things as a coach here.”

Hayward added; "As a new coaching team we're not expecting success overnight, we have to put building blocks in place but we'll work hard over time to make an impact and we want to play against the best and beat the best.”