Pivac hints at next Scarlets head coach and it's another Kiwi

Wayne Pivac will be leaving the Scarlets at the end of the season to take over as Wales head coach following the 2019 World Cup.

The New Zealander has been a huge success at the club, leading them to PRO14 final and Champions Cup semi-finals last season and to PRO12 success in 2017.

Pivac has revealed that the Scarlets are stepping up the pace to find a replacement.

"They will not want to leave it late. They will want to get it done so it is not a distraction to anybody and we move on.

"The club have spoken to a number of potential candidates and have got a list of quality people. It won't be too much longer before we will be in a position to announce something."

The man who is being hotly tipped is New Zealander Paul Feeney, a man whom Pivac knows well having worked with him with the Fiji national team and Auckland.

The added bonus is that Feeney's contract with South African franchise the Stormers runs out in 2019, so no compensation would be required.

Speculation was hardly dampened when Feeney was spotted at Scarlets training recently.

"He came to us on a coach development exercise to see how we do things," said Pivac.

"He was here to have a look but he is a coach who is coming off contract at the end of the year.

"We know each other and I know what he can and can't do. He is an excellent coach."

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Pivac said he would not have the casting vote on a successor, but confirmed he was involved in the process to find his replacement.

"I know a lot of the coaches and make a few phone calls and get information which helps to throw into the mix. Ultimately it will be a club decision, although they will get my feedback."

"The club have made it clear they are looking for someone with a proven track record of performance and winning.

"That narrows the field until you get a worthwhile number of coaches to interview. That is where they are at."

Treviso head coach Kieran Crowley is another who has been linked.

Meanwhile, Stephen Jones has been hotly tipped to join Pivac's backroom team with Wales.

Video: Wayne Pivac discusses Wales job