Scarlets recruit 'outstanding' defence coach from rugby league giants

Scarlets have announced the appointment of highly-rated Eamon O’Carroll as the club’s new defence coach.

O’Carroll joins Scarlets from Super League powerhouse St Helens, where he has built a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in the professional game.

The 38-year-old former Ireland RL international has previously held roles as head coach of Bradford Bulls and Newcastle Thunder and assistant coach at Catalans Dragons.

O’Carroll will become part of Scarlets’ coaching team following the conclusion of the current Super League season, with St Helens firmly in contention for silverware as they pursue their ambitions of reaching the Super League Grand Final.

His role will extend beyond defensive organisation and systems, working closely with players and staff across the entire performance programme to help develop the physical and behavioural standards required to compete at the highest level.

“We are absolutely delighted to bring Eamon to Scarlets,” said Scarlets Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies.

“First and foremost, he is an outstanding coach. He has worked within elite high-performance environments at the top of professional rugby league and has built a stand-out reputation for his energy, attention to detail, work ethic and ability to develop players and drive standards every day.

“What also stood out to us was his character. He is passionate, demanding, highly competitive and has a genuine enthusiasm for helping players improve. He will bring a huge amount of energy to our environment.”

Davies added: “Defence is about far more than systems. It is about attitude, commitment, trust and the willingness to compete for every moment of the game. Eamon brings those qualities in abundance.

“His experience in title-winning elite professional environments has been built around those principles. His teams are known for their work ethic, their physical commitment and their willingness to compete for every moment of the game.

“We want players who are not just fit enough to play rugby but fit enough to dominate the contact area, repeatedly get off the ground, reload and compete. Eamon shares that vision completely. He is a great cultural fit. He understands the importance of creating an environment where people enjoy coming to work, challenge one another and continually strive to improve.

“We want to build a team that reflects the values of this club and our supporters – hard-working, connected, brave and relentlessly competitive. We believe our players and supporters will really connect with what Eamon brings.”

O’Carroll joins the Scarlets as a replacement for Jared Payne, who is moving on after three seasons in West Wales.

“The opportunity to join Scarlets was one that really excited me. I’ve always tried to challenge myself throughout my career and step outside my comfort zone because that’s when I feel I do my best work,” said O’Carroll.

“Scarlets is a great club with huge history, strong values and clearly means everything to its supporters and the whole region in West Wales.

“When I watched Scarlets play, one thing stood out immediately – they compete. That’s really important to me. It’s not about coming in and changing everything. It’s about adding to what is already there, bringing fresh ideas and helping people improve.

“The competitions have a real edge and an exciting challenge – the different styles of rugby, the different cultures, the travel, the South African teams and the physical threat they bring – it’s something that I am really looking forward to being a part of.”