Scarlets have a new backs coach
Flanagan, who has been coaching at Parc y Scarlets for the last five years, will be part of Brad Mooar’s new-look team.
The 33-year-old will take charge of the backs with one more appointment still to be announced.
Following a playing career that took in spells with Cardiff Blues, the Ospreys and Pontypridd, Flanagan joined the Scarlets as a skills/kicking coach in 2014.
The former flyhalf had a brief spell as interim backs coach under Wayne Pivac a year later when he replaced Mark Jones and has since been a key part of the Scarlets’ development programme, working with the Scarlets A side, the British & Irish Cup team and as head coach of Llanelli RFC.
He has also been a member of the Wales Under-20 coaching set-up for the last 18 months.
“This is a hugely exciting opportunity to carry on the work put in place by Wayne (Pivac), Stephen (Jones) and the previous coaching team,” he said.
“I spoke to Brad when he was here in December and we got on really well. We saw the game the same way, especially from an attack and backs point of view.
“It is important we don’t go away from the values the Scarlets have. We need to stick with what the Scarlets are good at, that is playing an open brand of exciting rugby and getting your best players on the ball as much as possible.
“I am still a young coach and learning all the time, but I really enjoyed being in the role when Mark left towards the end of the 2014-15 season. I came in, had a look, realised what I needed to work on to get better and have spent the last few years working on that. That experience is golden.”
Looking forward to the challenge ahead, Flanagan added: “You watch the Crusaders play, you can see their attacking intent and I am sure we will continue in that vein under Brad.
“We have had two very successful seasons before this one, which has been challenging.
“Our challenge is to learn from that and to kick on and get back to where we were.
“The squad is good enough, we have internationals and quality players scattered across the park.
“In the last few years we have seen home-grown backs like Steff Evans and Ioan Nicholas come through and it is exciting that we have the likes of Corey Baldwin, Ryan Conbeer and Tom Rogers in the system, players I am sure we will see a lot more of in the coming years.”
Flanagan’s appointment follows this week’s announcement that Glenn Delaney will take on the role of Scarlets’ defence coach ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said: “It is great to see a Welsh coach come through our coaching system and be held in such high regard as Dai is.
“He has gained a lot of experience, taking charge of our A team last season and before that the B&I Cup side and Llanelli RFC.
“It is another key appointment in what will be an exciting coaching team that Brad has assembled.”
