News

Scarlets coaches missing in action

July 02 2008

The Scarlets were left red-faced as pre-season training got under way without their two new high-profile Australian coaches arriving.

Red tape prevented John Muggleton, the meanest defence coach in World Cup history, and fitness guru Brad Harrington from linking up with new Scarlets boss Nigel Davies as planned on Tuesday.

With the coaches expected to be ready to start a new era at the Scarlets things could not have got off to a worse start - red tape had prevented the two coaches being granted the necessary work permits.

Embarrassed Scarlets officials tried to put the blame on visa complications at the Australian end, but were unable to say when the coaches would be ready for work in west Wales.

The new twist comes as part of a saga which has been ongoing since the sacking of Phil Davies two months ago following a traumatic campaign which saw the Scarlets, so often Wales' European flag-bearers, lose every single Heineken Cup match.

With Davies suddenly out of a job, the Scarlets were forced to withdraw from talks with All Black prop Greg Somerville as the Scarlets looked to rebuild in time for the new season.

Phil Davies was then replaced by former Wales Assistant Coach Nigel Davies, who abruptly quit his post as Head of Rugby Development with the Welsh Rugby Union to become coach of the three-time European semi-finalists.

Davies' return to Stradey was marked by an outburst from him questioning Welsh rugby's fascination with luring foreign coaches to Wales - only to see him subsequently recruit Muggleton and Harrington from Australia.

Until the duo arrive, though, Davies, Paul Moriarty and newly-appointed assistant fitness coach Ryan Campbell will have to oversee the training on their own.

Their failure to come on time leaves the Scarlets in danger of trailing behind the other Welsh regions when it comes to fitness and conditioning work.

Players were stunned when they arrived at training to find neither of the pair were there.

"We were expecting the fitness bloke to put us through the mill so we were, to put it mildly, surprised to discover he wasn't there," a leading Scarlet told The Western Mail.

"When he eventually arrives I've got a view we will be in for it because he will want to make up for lost time."

Scarlets bosses are hopeful that the duo will arrive in Llanelli in the next week, but they can not give an exact date.

"It happens sometimes - the work visas are taking a bit more time to process in Australia than we had expected," admitted Chief Executive Stuart Gallacher.

"The work at this end, such as the securing of work permits, was done on time; Brad and John are just waiting for the visas to be issued to them before they can travel.

"We're not unduly concerned at this slight delay - there are no issues.

"The players are largely undertaking induction processes this week and there is a positive mood in the camp with Nigel taking the reins as Head Coach, the retention of Paul Moriarty as Forwards Coach and the appointment of Garan Evans as Team Manager.

"The coaching team, with our player signings and the fabulous new stadium shows how determined we are to thrive at the highest level of the professional game."