Jenkins set to succeed axed Davies
Gareth Jenkins could make a shock return to Scarlets following the departure of rugby director Phil Davies.
Gareth Jenkins could make a shock return to Scarlets following the departure of rugby director Phil Davies.
Davies has left Stradey Park, axed following a dismal season that saw Scarlets fail to make an impact in the Heineken Cup, Magners League or EDF Energy Cup.
And it is understood that former Scarlets boss Jenkins might be lined up for a new post at the Welsh region of elite performance director.
Jenkins left Scarlets to become Wales coach in April 2006, but his reign with the national team ended in October after a damaging failure to progress beyond the World Cup pool stage.
Paul Moriarty, supported by his fellow former Wales internationals Robert Jones and Wayne Proctor – all members of Davies's support staff – have been placed in interim charge.
The Scarlets have two Magners League games remaining this term, both at Stradey Park against Munster on Saturday and Edinburgh the following weekend.
Scarlets' board of directors took the decision to serve notice on Davies's contract of employment with the Scarlets.
Davies, 44, met with board chairman Huw Evans in Llanelli on Wednesday. Davies will serve out his notice period, which runs until the end of May, away from the region.
“The decision follows a review of the Scarlets' rugby performance this season, which includes looking at the structure of the rugby playing side of the business ahead of the region's move to a new stadium at the end of this year,” read a statement released by the Scarlets board.
“The board would like to make it clear that this has been a difficult decision to make and one that is disappointing for all parties concerned.”
Davies's two-season reign was highlighted by Scarlets reaching the Heineken Cup semi-finals last year, when they bowed out against Leicester.
But the Scarlets failed to register a point in their Heineken qualifying pool this term, losing all six games, which culminated in a 41-0 Stradey Park drubbing by French side Clermont Auvergne.
Former Llanelli and Wales forward Davies, 44, was appointed Scarlets boss after leaving a similar role with Leeds.
Jenkins, meanwhile, is understood to be in the frame for an elite performance director role, similar to one recently taken up by New Zealander Andrew Hore at the Ospreys.
After Wales's World Cup hopes crashed on the back of defeat against Fiji in Nantes, Jenkins was dismissed and replaced by New Zealander Warren Gatland, who then masterminded a second Six Nations title and Grand Slam for Wales in four seasons.
During Jenkins's long reign as Scarlets coach, the team reached two Heineken semi-finals, in addition to enjoying regular domestic league and cup success.
Other names reportedly in the Stradey Park coaching frame include ex-Llanelli, Wales and Lions number eight Scott Quinnell, together with former Samoa World Cup captain Pat Lam.