The Scarlets believe they have brought valuable goods over the border by recruiting England U20s coach Richard Whiffin from Gloucester.
Whiffin – currently preparing as part of the England coaching team for the Junior World Championships in Argentina – will start at Parc Y Scarlets on his return.
His arrival as attack coach will complete a five-strong team at Llanelli which will take over from departed head coach Wayne Pivac and his assistant Stephen Jones, who are due to lead Wales after the World Cup.
Whiffin has been head coach of the Gloucester academy for the last two years and will be among a five-strong senior coaching team at Parc y Scarlets that will be headed up by Brad Mooar and also includes Ioan Cunningham (forwards), Glenn Delaney (defence) and Dai Flanagan (backs).
Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said: “Richard’s appointment completes our coaching team for next season and we are hugely excited about the experience and talent we have in the group.
“Richard is a highly-regarded coach. He lives in Cardiff and has been on the Welsh radar for some time. The fact that he was called into the England Under-20s set-up highlights his quality.
“We look forward to welcoming him to Parc y Scarlets once he returns from Argentina.”
The link to Whiffin comes through Delaney during their time together at London Irish.
Whiffin had more than a decade at the Exiles where he started as an analyst and moved on to become attack coach, working with future England internationals Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson and alongside Delaney during the New Zealander’s spell in charge. During that time he also worked with the England Saxons.
Whiffin said: “I am really excited by this opportunity. I have heard a lot of good things from others coaches about Brad and knowing the way the Crusaders play and also the history, the DNA of the Scarlets and the brand of rugby they play, I think that will dovetail nicely.
“The Scarlets have been the standard bearers of Welsh rugby in recent years and I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with the mixture of British and Irish Lions, Wales internationals and an exciting group of youngsters that the Scarlets have in their group.
“I have a tight relationship with Glenn, I know Dai well through the academy and 20s and am looking forward to getting to know all the coaching team when I arrive after Argentina.”
