The New Zealander was fired by Wales last December following a poor series of results and has since been replaced by New Zealander Warren Gatland, who has returned for a second term at the head of Leek’s XV . It is “a great honor and a privilege” to join the NEC (club relegated from the Japanese elite last season) according to the 60-year-old coach quoted in the club press release.
“Our motto, Ever Higher, embodies everything we will do throughout the 2023/24 season, as we rebuild to be better and stronger than we have been in previous seasons. We will strive to return to the top division of Japanese rugby” and “along the way we want to give our supporters something to celebrate with some exciting rugby,” he continued. The departure of Pivac from the position of coach of Wales had been recorded after a disappointing campaign of the XV of Leek during the Autumn Nations Series, marked in particular by a defeat at home against Georgia.
Wales have won just 13 of their 34 Tests with Pivac, despite a Six Seasons Tournament title in 2021 secured under his watch. He succeeded Gatland after the 2019 World Cup.