Scarlets have announced the appointment of former international player, coach and experienced rugby and business leader Nigel Davies as Interim Director of Rugby, with immediate effect until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Nigel Davies brings more than 20 years of elite rugby and high-performance leadership including international player and coach development and supported by experience in global business consultancy and transformation.
The appointment follows a strategic rugby review of the club’s rugby operations conducted by the Scarlets Board in recent weeks.
In the new Director of Rugby role, Davies will oversee the Scarlets rugby department reporting directly to the Scarlets Board with overall accountability for rugby performance, results and selection providing leadership, structure and alignment across the senior rugby programme.
He joins the club at a pivotal moment to provide clear leadership, accountability, high performance planning and a unified commitment to drive improved results.
Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel will continue to lead daily coaching, match preparation and technical delivery, working closely with Davies within an aligned performance framework.
During more than 10 years coaching Scarlets, Davies led the club to major achievements including a Celtic League title in 2003-4, two European semi-finals and four European quarter-finals.
Davies has extensive experience developing international class players and coaches. He played a defining role in developing a generation of Welsh internationals who would go on to form the backbone of the Welsh team across multiple Six Nations and World Cups, as well as developing a core of new England internationals while at Gloucester Rugby.
These include Jonathan Davies, Ken Owens, George North, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams, Scott Williams, Josh Turnbull, Jonny May, Henry Trinder, Freddie Burns, Ben Morgan and Billy Twelvetrees as well as developing coaches Simon Easterby and Mark Jones.
From his consultancy work in recent years, Davies brings board-level transformation expertise, spanning organisational review, performance optimisation, continuous improvement and strategic planning, including advisory work for blue-chip automotive and aerospace organisations.
Nigel Davies said: “This is about bringing clarity, alignment and stability to the rugby programme. I will take full accountability for performance and results, set clear standards for how we play and behave and ensure the environment supports players and coaches to perform. My focus is on simplifying messages, reinforcing Scarlets identity and values and creating the conditions for improved results, both in the short term and beyond.
“Scarlets have always had a strong and proud rugby identity, with a rich rugby heritage and deep-seated values and traditions. The club is embedded in the culture of communities across West Wales. This club has always thrived on delivering big results against the odds which excite our fans and inspire future generations of players in the game. The hard work continues with a talented squad of players and I am looking forward to lending my support and drive to the group for the remainder of this season.”
Executive Chairman Simon Muderack said: “This is a strategic decision by the Board to strengthen our rugby performance structures for the remainder of this season. We are delighted and grateful that Nigel has agreed to return to Parc y Scarlets to lead and support the rugby environment during this crucial period in our season and at a time when Welsh rugby is entrenched in a challenging and wide-ranging review.
“A great of this club, Nigel has a proven track record in driving strategic change and cementing high performance cultures and processes. We believe the depth of his rugby intellect, experience and passion for our club and for rugby in Wales will significantly intensify our approach and drive for the rest of the season, as well as help ignite our rugby future.
“Everyone at our club remains fully committed to improving results and to see our team playing with a strong Scarlets identity and ensure our loyal and dedicated stakeholders and supporters have plenty to cheer about for the rest of this season.”
As part of the restructure of the rugby department, Rugby Performance Director Leigh Jones will leave the club. The Board thanks Leigh for his contribution and commitment over the past 18 months and wishes him well for the future.
Scarlets will confirm any future rugby appointments as part of its rugby review in coming weeks.