Scarlets retain Wilson’s scrum expertise as he moves home next season

Scarlets Forwards Coach Danny Wilson will be retained as a part-time Scrum Coach at Parc y Scarlets next season as he moves from West Wales to take up a new role with his home club Bristol RFC.

The highly rated Forwards Coach will continue to take responsibility for scrum performance at the Scarlets – an area of significant positive improvement since Wilson joined the Scarlets in 2012.

The consultancy role is one that Wilson says he is eager to continue given the input that he has had in strengthening and building the culture of the Scarlets pack performance over the past two seasons.

The former Wales U20 and the Dragons Coach will take up the opportunity of Forwards Coach with Bristol RFC, on a three-year deal this summer and will return to West Wales one day per week in 2014/15 season to coach technical scrum performance.

Wilson has won the respect of players and colleagues for his hard-work, knowledge and ambition resulting in a widely acknowledged improvement in the strength of Scarlets Forward play, as well as the development of a group of impressive young Scarlets forwards. These include a number who are breaking onto the international stage including emerging front-rowers Rhodri Jones, Samson Lee and Rob Evans.

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “We have respected that Danny wanted to take the opportunity presented to him by Bristol to be part of his home club and return to his rugby roots with his family.

“We’ve therefore supported Danny in the move and it’s clear there is ambition and investment at Bristol Rugby and a real intent to take rugby forward. We’ve come to a positive and progressive agreement that allows Danny to continue technical scrum work with us on a weekly basis. We are retaining his expertise and knowledge including mentoring leadership amongst some of our most senior forwards.

“It is accepted practice today in top-flight rugby clubs to invest in technical consultancy to support scrum coaching. We can draw on Danny’s expertise in this area– it gives us continuity and also places us in a strong position next season.

“It means we can further strength our coaching team with the recruitment of another experienced full-time senior coach which will add to the positive impact on our squad and environment at Parc y Scarlets.

“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Danny all the hard work and commitment he has given the Scarlets over the past two seasons. He has made a significant difference here and we also wish him well in his ambitions with Bristol RFC.”

Wilson joined the Scarlets as Forwards Coach for the start of the 2012/13 season; initially combining this role with his position as Head Coach of the Wales U20 side where he lead his young team to a third place finish in the IRB Junior World Championships in South African in 2012.

Wilson, who was born in Weston Super Mare, and returns home next season with his young family said: “It will be an exciting and challenging time for me as a coach, which I am really looking forward to.

“I am grateful to the Scarletsfor supporting my move back home – it’s going to be the best of both worlds for me as I still have responsibility for performance of the Scarlets scrum.

“I will be focusing on one key area of our game and that was really important to me not only for continuity for the players but also because of the culture we’ve established as a unit of forwards.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with Andy Robinson and his team at Bristol RFC, who have big ambitions as well.

“My thanks also go to all the Scarlets supporters, sponsors and partners who have been brilliant over the past two years since I joined rugby in West Wales. It’s a great Welsh Region to be a part of; I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as Forwards Coach and look forward to seeing the Scarlets progress further next season.”