Ex-Penallta youth player named as interim Scarlets head coach

Cefn Hengoed’s Dai Flanagan has been named as the interim head coach of Scarlets rugby team.

Former Penallta RFC youth player Flanagan, 35, has been given the role after the Llanelli-based region parted ways with head coach Glenn Delaney.

A former fly-half for Cardiff Blues, Flanagan has been promoted to the top job at the Scarlets on a temporary basis, and will see out the remainder of the region’s Rainbow Cup campaign.

Recently, Flanagan has been coaching Penallta RFC under-6s, alongside Scott Lowe.

In a statement, Penallta RFC congratulated Flanagan on his appointment. The statement read: “Well done to Dai Flanagan.

“It’s a big role and an impressive promotion for Dai; his family must be super proud of how quickly he’s climbing to the very top of the Welsh coaching pyramid.

“It’s lovely to see such a nice guy doing so well in the game, following his excellent playing career with an equally impressive coaching path.

“Let’s hope he appoints his dad as the Scarlets’ post-match entertainment supremo and that we get to watch clips of Jake Ball touching the ceiling and Ken Owens singing Father Abraham.

“Ps – Dai, being the loyal Penallta boy that he is, is also currently helping coach Penallta Under-6s with Scott Lowe.

“Dai’s boy Rodric plays in the side, starting off another generation of Penallta Flannys.

“I bet it’s more pressured coaching five and six-year-olds than it is a squad of international players!”