Scarlets confirm former All Black Franks and academy coach Kelly will join new-look coaching set-up
Scarlets have confirmed that Richard Kelly and Ben Franks will join Glenn Delaney's new-look coaching set-up. Academy coach Kelly has been promoted to forwards coach while former All Blacks prop Franks will join the Welsh club as scrum coach.
Richard Wiffin has also been confirmed as attack coach.
Scarlets appointed Delaney as their new head coach for the 202o/21 season after it was confirmed that New Zealander Brad Mooar would be joining All Blacks head coach Ian Foster's backroom staff, and he has wasted no time in putting together a new-look coaching team.
Delaney has joined Scarlets last summer as defence coach.
New forwards coach Kelly has been working with Scarlets since retiring in 2015, and has also been working with the Wales U20s for the past 18 months.
Two-time World Cup winner Franks announced his retirement in February, and will join Scarlets once his current contract with Northampton Saints ends.
Whiffin has been assistant attack coach at Scarlets since last summer. The club also confirmed that Dai Flanagan will continue in his role as backs coach.
“I am delighted to bring Rich Kelly into the senior coaching team after the work he has done with the Academy, A side and the Wales U20s and also to welcome someone of Ben’s calibre to the Scarlets," Delaney said.
"Both bring a broad skillset to the group along with their detailed set-piece expertise and I am looking forward to seeing them add to our programme.
“Rich is highly respected and has coached in our system for a number of seasons. He has been instrumental in the growth of our young players, a number of whom are stepping up to the senior squad for the coming season.
“Ben’s playing record speaks for itself. He is a double World Cup winner and has close to 50 caps for the All Blacks. I know him well from my days with my original club Linwood back in New Zealand and also with (London) Irish and he is the ultimate professional.
"He started his senior coaching journey as a player coach with London Irish and has continued to coach club rugby outside of his playing commitments.
“As a group we are excited about coming together when rugby resumes following this lockdown period. We are all looking forward to building on what Brad has put in place this season.”
Franks admitted he had always hoped to move into coaching once his playing career ended.
“Coaching is something I had always planned to do when I finished playing and I was delighted when this opportunity came with the Scarlets," he said.
“I had always known I was going to retire this season so before the coronavirus I had planned on taking some time off, doing some travelling and upskilling. Glenn then got in touch and it’s an opportunity I’m excited to be taking.
“I have learned a lot from previous coaches and from playing over here for the last four or five years and I’m excited to be working alongside Glenn and the other coaches, who I’m sure will push me and help me develop as a coach.
“There is a great mix of experienced internationals and youth in the squad at the Scarlets. I’m looking forward to linking up with everyone.”
“I feel very lucky and humbled to be given the opportunity to coach such a prestigious team," Kelly added.
"The Scarlets have a huge stature in the world of rugby and I’m looking forward to helping the team work towards achieving success.
“My current role has allowed me to get to know the players well, working with primarily the development players in the senior group, but allowing me to build strong relationships with the wider squad too. I’m looking forward to strengthening those relationships next season.
“I would like to thank Brad and Ioan for their work last year and wish them well with the next steps in their journeys. I was lucky enough to have some excellent support from them last season.
“I’m excited to work with Glenn and the new coaching group. There is a real energy and excitement around what we are planning and we can’t wait to get into it and get moving.”
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Everywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
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