Scarlets set Davies free
The Scarlets comfirmed on Wednesday that they have parted company with Director of Rugby Phil Davies. A shock return for former Scarlets and Wales coach Gareth Jenkins is rumoured
The Scarlets comfirmed on Wednesday that they have parted company with Director of Rugby Phil Davies. A shock return for former Scarlets and Wales coach Gareth Jenkins is rumoured.
Davies, 44, has overseen the tough transitional period since Jenkins left Stradey Park in 2006 to take the Wales job, and was also a contender for the national role when Jenkins was sacked after the poor 2007 World Cup display.
Jenkins has been maintaining his coaching skills with London Welsh since then, but is now set to rejoin the region/club where he spent the best part of 20 years before moving to the national office.
Another name linked with the Scarlets job is that of former talisman number eight Scott Quinnell, who oversaw the youth set-up and semi-professional club side under Jenkins, but left under a cloud citing political wranglings as the reason for his departure.
Rumours of unrest have been rife this season on the back of a sub-standard Heineken Cup showing which saw the Scarlets exit without getting a single point from the toughest pool, and with well-documented problems of debt and the wrangle over the move to a new stadium.
Star scrum-half Dwayne Peel has left for Sale Sharks, and there was a long negotiation over fly-half Stephen Jones' future as well before the Welsh international re-committed.
Chief executive Gallacher denied that there was any problem with player dissatisfaction back in January, saying in a statement that “There are no major issues between the players and coaches, we will move forward.”
“I'm aware of the innuendo and rumours regarding Phil Davies' relationship with his players – when results are poor it's easy to point the finger at the coaching staff.”
Just last week Davies travelled with Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher to New Zealand and Australia on a recruitment mission.
New Zealand tight-head prop Greg Somerville, the second most capped prop in All Blacks history, is expected to join the Scarlets from Super 14 powerhouses the Crusaders, and Australian back-row Rocky Elsom has also been linked with a move to West Wales.
Davies joined the Scarlets from Leeds Tykes in 2006, after the Premiership side had been relegated to National Division One. He enjoyed a long and prosperous playing career at Llanelli.
But this season has seen the Scarlets win only seven of their sixteen Magners League games, as well as the ignominious Heineken Cup exit.