Brad Mooar has revealed he is “torn” over whether to join Ian Foster’s All Blacks set-up after the Scarlets head coach was offered the chance to return to New Zealand at the end of the season.
Mooar has made a big impact since arriving in Llanelli in July, but new All Blacks head coach Foster wants him as his attack assistant moving forwards.
Discussions between New Zealand Rugby and the Scarlets are at an early stage with Mooar yet to decide on whether to stay in west Wales or return to the southern hemisphere and cut short the three-year deal he signed in Llanelli. An announcement isn’t expected until the New Year.
Asked if coaching the country of his birth would be too good an offer to turn down, Mooar said: “I’m torn, yes. This is tough and both options are outstanding.
“It would be a hell of a proud moment and it’s humbling to be in the conversation. We can’t really add anything more. The question has been asked, we are grown adults, and we are having responsible conversations and things will pan out.
If Brad mooar is going,then ball in @scarlets_rugby court…full compensation package from nzru…and,a signed and sealed contract, between both parties, for Scarlets to play the all blacks, in 2022, as part of the 50th anniversary of Llanelli’s 9-3 victory,over the all blacks.
— martin (@martp68) December 13, 2019
“We don’t know, do we? I am here and we are doing a great job with the group. They are working for each other and it’s great. We will just have to keep the conversations going.”
On Saturday the Scarlets confirmed in a statement that former Crusaders assistant Mooar had been approached by New Zealand and that the two parties were in conversation. Mooar was unable to comment when asked when he or the Scarlets first learned of the All Blacks’ interest in him.
It is understood Mooar is likely to stay at the Scarlets for the rest of the 2019-20 season wherever he decides his long-term future lies.
From the Scarlets’ perspective they are determined to maximise the compensation they would receive from the NZRU should Mooar move on given he is only five months into his deal.
Mooar confirmed he would be happy to stay in Llanelli until the end of the campaign regardless of what happens and the Scarlets showed no signs of their boss’ future distracting them.
They hammered Bayonne 46-5 in the European Challenge Cup and scored six tries as Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny ended the game with a 21-point haul.
“What you saw tonight (against Bayonne) is the ‘We’ in our club is a hell of a lot bigger and stronger than the ‘Me’,” Mooar said. “It (keeping going for the rest of season) would not be difficult at all.
“The focus will remain. It’s a wonderful place to be here and we are enjoying a great rise. The way we are playing the game and the fan base means this is bigger than one person. It’s an exciting time. “I doff my hats to the boys and staff and the way everyone has pulled together has been outstanding. We have set a vision, are working together, and our noses are in the same direction.”