Nigel Davies close to Scarlets exit – Rugby News Update
Nigel Davies, the head coach of the west Wales club, the Scarlets, is a sought after man after he around the fortunes of the club, producing one of the most attractive teams in the RaboDirect PRO12 League, with an open-style of play.
The Chairman of the Scarlets’, Phil Bennett, is aware of the fact that the Aviva Premiership club, Gloucester, has Davies on their short-list to replace the outgoing Bryan Redpath. The Chairman is prepared for the worst but he also understands the reason
why his incumbent coach is in high demand.
"What's really encouraging is the crowds are coming back. The supporters have bought into Nigel's philosophy of playing football the traditional Scarlets' way, but matched with a bit of realism. Some people questioned whether the fans would take to Parcy
Scarlets after Stradey Park, with all the history associated with that ground in the past, but they have and Nigel has played a big part in that."
Scarlets, who failed to make it to the play-offs of the RaboDirect PRO12, have had to be rebuilt as a team, and Davies did that. Before his arrival, the fans were not coming to watch the games, they were disillusioned with the team.
However, the coach turned around their fortunes, bringing in young players such as fly-half Rhys Priestland, winger George North and centre Scott Williams, to build a team that would grow together.
Bennett also believes that the team is finally gunning for silverware and are in a position to achieve that, but with the exit of their coach, he will not be there to witness the club lifting a trophy.
He said, "We've not won a lot of things and I think Nigel said at the start of the season it's about time we grew up, we're not youngsters anymore...”
Davies is a former Wales international, having played 29 times for his country. He made his debut against New Zealand at Auckland, on June 11, 1988 and played his last international game against England at Cardiff in 1997.
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