Super Rugby Champions Crusaders Coach Brad Mooar will replace Wayne Pivac as Scarlets Head Coach.

Scarlets are delighted to confirm that Brad Mooar has been signed as the region’s new head coach for the 2019-20 season and beyond. 

44-year-old Mooar will join the West Wales region from the successful Super Rugby side Crusaders. 

Mooar will bring with him a wealth of coaching experience having been assistant coach at the Crusaders for the last three seasons, Head Coach at Mitre10 Cup side Southland Stags as well as attack and backs coach with South African sides Eastern Province Kings and Southern Kings in the Super 15. Eastern Province Kings were unbeaten Currie Cup Division 1 Champions during Mooar’s tenure.

The experienced coach leads on team attack as well as strategy and tactics at the Crusaders. Away from the rugby field Mooar is a qualified solicitor and was admitted as barrister and solicitor to High Court of New Zealand in 1997. He has been hailed for his inspirational leadership and excellent management skills.

Commenting on the news Scarlets General Manager of Rugby Jon Daniels said; “After a detailed and comprehensive search we are delighted to have secured an exceptional coach in Brad. As part of the recruitment process we have taken extensive references on all candidates and what came through loud and clear on Brad was that he is one of New Zealand’s best coaching prospects and destined for great things.

“We pride ourselves in appointing players and coaches that not only perform on the rugby field but also contribute to the ethos and environment of the club and our wider community. Brad’s rugby philosophy, leadership style and personality are everything we were looking for in a head coach. 

“Brad has been assistant coach with the Crusaders over the last three seasons helping the side to two consecutive Super Rugby titles. Brad has a great understanding of what is required for success and how to build a winning culture.

“Throughout the process we have been hugely impressed with Brad’s appreciation of Scarlets’ place in the community, his passion for developing players and the research he had done on our heritage.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming Brad and his family to West Wales, we’re excited for the future but we still have everything to play for this season which will remain our primary focus.”

Brad Mooar added; “The opportunity to take on the role of Head Coach at the Scarlets is simply too good to pass up and is both an exciting challenge for myself, and a fantastic opportunity for my family to experience life on the other side of the world. 

“The Scarlets is a rugby brand that’s known the world over, it is a winning club with an extremely proud history, passionate fans, and is aspirational in its goals. It is humbling to be offered the opportunity to take the reins after the great work Wayne Pivac has led, as he moves on to the Wales job.

“In addition to Scarlets’ on-field rugby pedigree, with a strong squad of talented and largely homegrown players, the club represents its wider community with great pride and dedication. My family and I are looking forward to being a part of the wider Scarlets community integrating into life in West Wales.”

Mooar progressed through the Canterbury age grades as a flyhalf, reaching Canterbury B level.  He played for Mid-Canterbury from 1997-1999 and then played overseas before returning to Christchurch to take up coaching.

His first coaching role was with the Christchurch Colts and then the club’s premier team from 2007 to 2011.  In 2011 he became the assistant coach of the Canterbury Colts. 

In 2012 he moved to South Africa to coach the EP Kings then become assistant coach of the Southern Kings Super Rugby side under Matt Sexton’s leadership.  He returned to New Zealand to take up the head coach and Director of Rugby role at Southland. 

Carmarthenshire Council’s  annual Toybox appeal is underway and the council will be accepting donations up until Christmas Eve.

The earlier they land will make the work of the team easier.

Warm-hearted Carmarthenshire residents with a little extra to spare are being asked to help put a smile on the faces of families and children in need this Christmas.

Residents county-wide are being urged to help brighten Christmas for those deserving by donating presents, toiletries and food appropriate for ages 0-16.

Those kind enough to go out of their way and donate are being asked to leave gifts unwrapped as they can then be easily sorted by our hardworking team.

The donated gifts will be given to families who, for a number of reasons are unable to give their children the Christmas the rest of us perhaps take for granted.

Schools, family centres, social workers and youth workers identify those who are in greatest need of support.

Council staff are supported by volunteers to sort, wrap and deliver toys and hampers in the run-up to Christmas.

Cllr Mair Stephens said the Toybox and Christmas gift appeal was growing in strength year by year. “The amazing number of donations we receive over the busy festive period yearly is down to our generous residents county wide, with donations ideal for new-borns to teenagers we can’t be thankful enough. 
During a time of giving and receiving I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses involved for their generosity and support, in particular Nolan, which has allowed the appeal to be hosted at their premises in Johnstown.”

Collection Bin Locations:

• Customer Service Centre, 3 Spilman Street, Carmarthen
• County Hall, Carmarthen
• Natwest Bank, Carmarthen
• Blas Myrddin at Parc Dewi Sant, Building 2, Carmarthen
• Block 1, Parc Myrddin, Carmarthen
• Cillefwr depot, Carmarthenshire County Council, Johnstown, Carmarthen
• Nant y Ci, Carmarthen
• Llandeilo Community Education Centre
• Tesco Ammanford
• Town Hall, Ammanford
• Pontyberem Hall
• Town Hall, Llanelli
• Hub, Llanelli
• Cathedral Hygiene, Unit 1, Dragon 24, North Dock, Llanelli
• Burns Pet Nutrition, Kidwelly
• Jennings Solicitors, Llanelli
• Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli
• Yr Atom, King Street, Carmarthen
• Llanelli Library
• Ammanford Library
• Carmarthen Library
• Leisure Centres: 
  Llanelli
  Carmarthen
  Ammanford
  Newcastle Emlyn
  Llandovery
  St Clears

A community is rallying around to help neighbours and businesses who are still counting the cost of the flooding brought by Storm Callum last month.

A Llandysul and Pontweli Flood Assistance Appeal has been launched by volunteers to raise funds and collect donations to support those trying to repair and rebuild.

Carmarthenshire County Council and Ceredigion County Council have agreed to collect the donations and handle the distribution of funds by agreement of the administrators.

Money raised will be distributed to households, community enterprises and businesses in the flood area, between Abercerdin to Llandysul Bridge; Wills Cleaning Services to Llandysul Bridge; Swain Commercials on the Pencader Road to Llandysul Bridge, and a small number of properties upstream on the Carmarthenshire side.

Donations will be collected up until January 15, 2019, when the appeal fund will close and the money distributed.

Every penny raised will be distributed to those in need of assistance, with all parties agreeing that no administrative fees will be deducted.

Eligible recipients will be able to receive or decline the assistance.

A Facebook page (Apel Cymorth Llifogydd Llandysul & Pontweli Flood Assistance Appeal) has been set up to raise awareness of the fund.

The fund’s administrators are Cllr Keith Evans, Cllr Linda Evans, Cllr Ken Howells, Meinir Davies, Robert Jenkins and Rev Gareth Reid.

DONATE TO THE APPEAL

Cheques should be returned to:

• Carmarthenshire County Council, Cashier Department, 3 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LE and should be payable to Carmarthenshire County Council. Please write on the back of the cheque: ‘Llandysul / Pontweli Flood Assistance Appeal’
• Ceredigion County Council, Canolfan Rheidol, Rhodfa Padarn, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, SY23 3UE and should be payable to Ceredigion County Council. Please write on the back of the cheque: ‘Llandysul / Pontweli Flood Assistance Appeal’

Cash and cheque donations can also be made at the following local businesses:

• Valley Services
• Gwesty’r Porth
• Spar
• FFAB
• Milfeddygon Tysul
• YBT

The Ospreys team to play Zebre at Liberty Stadium on Friday 30th November 2018, KO 7.35pm, is as follows:

15 Dan Evans 14 George North 13 Scott Williams 12 Owen Watkin 11 Luke Morgan 10 Sam Davies 9 Aled Davies 1 Nicky Smith 2 Scott Baldwin 3 Tom Botha 4 Adam Beard 5 Alun Wyn Jones  6 Olly Cracknell  7 Sam Cross 8 Justin Tipuric (Capt)

REPLACEMENTS – 16 Scott Otten 17 Gareth Thomas 18 Alex Jeffries 19 Lloyd Ashley 20 James King 21 Harri Morgan 22 James Hook 23 Cory Allen

Alun Wyn Jones plays his 233^rd Ospreys game to move clear at the top of the Region’s all time appearance list 

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:

Dan Baker – Knee; Bradley Davies – Knee; Ma’afu Fia – Back spasm; Gheorghe Gajion – Hamstring; Paul James – Shoulder; Rhodri Jones – Hamstring; Lesley Klim – Hamstring; Dan Lydiate – Elbow; Sam Parry – HIA; Luke Price- Fractured tibia

Ospreys Head Coach, Allen Clarke, said: 

“It’s been great to have the full squad together following what was a hugely successful Autumn International period for Wales – the energy and buzz has been fantastic. We’re together for the next seven weeks before the Six Nations and we’re conscious it’s a period that defines league positions at the back end of the season.

“Our opponents Zebre are the first in an important series of matches. For us it’s about concentrating on the basics and bringing the energy from training to the eighty minutes that matter.

“It’s a particularly special occasion for Alun Wyn, who will become the most capped Ospreys player of all time. He reflects what we stand for and as a team we want to make it a memorable night.”

Forthcoming Fixtures

Sat 8 Dec – 3.00pm – Ospreys v Stade Francais – Liberty Stadium

Fri 14 Dec – 8.45pm (Local) – Stade Francais v Ospreys – Stade Jean Bouin

Sat 22 Dec – 3.00pm – Ospreys v Scarlets – Liberty Stadium

Sun 30 Dec – 3.00pm – Dragons v Ospreys – Rodney Parade 

Scarlets take on Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday evening looking to build on last week’s impressive performance over Ulster Rugby to further cement their second place position in the Guinness PRO14’s Conference B.

Head Coach Wayne Pivac can call on a number of his returning internationals for the clash against Conference A leaders at their Glasgow base. 

Wales and British & Irish Lion centre Jonathan Davies returns to captain the side with club captain Ken Owens rested following the recent international campaign.

Davies, making his 148^thappearance for the region on Saturday, will lead a strong side to the field at Scotstoun with the Scarlets keen to keep the winning momentum following on from last weekend’s bonus point victory over Ulster at Parc y Scarlets.

Scrum half Kieran Hardy retains his starting position with Rhys Patchell returning to outside half following the autumn series. Steff Evans returns to join Tom Prydie and Johnny McNicholl in the back three whilst New Zealander Kieron Fonotia partners captain Davies in midfield. 

An all-international front row in Rob Evans, Ryan Elias and Werner Kruger gives the pack a solid footing wit Jake Ball joining Steve Cummins in the second row. Will Boyde moves across to the blindside in the backrow, Uzair Cassiem remains at number 8 with young Dan Davis coming in to the openside. 

Looking ahead to the clash head coach Wayne Pivac said; “Glasgow have a really impressive record at home. They play an expansive game, they’ve got quality coaching and a lot of Scottish players. 

“It all stacks up for an entertaining game. We’ve got a healthy respect for them and they’re flying in their conference. We’ve got a massive challenge ahead of us.”

Scarlets team to take on Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday 1^stDecember, kick-off 17:15;

15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Jonathan Davies ©, 12 Kieron Fonotia, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Kieran Hardy, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Werner Kruger, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Steve Cummins, 6 Will Boyde, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Uzair Cassiem

Replacements; 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 Tom Phillips, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Paul Asquith, 23 Clayton Blommetjies

The popular soloist Samuel Wyn-Morris will be the featured guest at one of the highlights of the West Wales concert calendar – Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir’s annual festive special.

‘Christmas With The Choir’ will be held at 7pm on Saturday, December 1, at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

Samuel is a 22-year-old Llanelli Boy who is a former head boy of Ysgol Y Strade.

In 2017, Samuel graduated from the prestigious Guildford School of Acting with a first class honours degree in musical theatre.

Since then, Samuel has continued to perform and made his professional debut at The Old Vic at the beginning of 2018. 

Samuel is a founder member of Loud Applause Rising Stars, the group set up to mentor and develop young talent in Wales.

Samuel now hopes to continue working professionally in 2019 with the aim of making his West End debut. 

In October 2018, Samuel, along with other members of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS), was a representative of Wales at the Liberation Celebratory weekend in S’Hertogenbosch, Holland where he performed at the prestigious Liberation Concert, to great acclaim, and at the 53^rdWelsh Division Memorial Service.

Samuel’s accompanist for the concert will be Andrew Pike.

The other special guests at the Côr Meibion Llanelli concert will be the award-winning Burry Port Town Band.

“It promises to be a very special evening,’ said Côr Meibion Llanelli chairman Tony Crossman.

“It’s been another busy year for the choir and the Christmas concert is regarded as our grand finale for 2018.

“The choristers are in fine voice and we are looking forward to being joined on stage by our guests.”

Côr Meibion Llanelli probably need no introduction for followers of the concert scene in West Wales.

It would take a fairly hefty book to summarise the achievements of the choir over a history spanning 54 years.

But there are some keynote events . . .

Côr Meibion Llanelli was formed in the village of Bynea under the baton of the late Denver Phillips BA. in 1964.

The choir’s longest-serving music director is the present holder of the baton, D Eifion Thomas, who has helped the choir grow in stature and strength to become one of the leading male choirs in Britain.

They have been successful at all the major choral competitions that Wales has to offer. The honours list includes five National Eisteddfod first prizes – at Lampeter in 1984, Fishguard in 1986, Llandeilo in 1996, Bridgend in 1998 and Llanelli in 2000.

The roll-call of wins also records seven firsts at the Miners Eisteddfod at Porthcawl, six firsts at Cardigan and three Pontrhydfendigaid Eisteddfodau. The choir was successful in winning the Corwen Choral Competition at its first attempt in 1987.

The Llanelli Male Choir has graced many leading auditoriums and concert halls in the land – London’s Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall, Birmingham’s Town and Symphony Halls, Oxford Town Hall, Plymouth’s Guild Hall, The MacRoberts Centre at Stirling, as well as Cardiff’s St David’s Hall and Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall.

Cathedrals have also featured high on the choir’s touring list – Coventry, Bury St Edmunds, Wells, Brecon, Gloucester, St David’s and Llandaff cathedrals have been concert venues, as well as Westminster Abbey.

The choir has travelled extensively throughout the world – Germany, Canada, USA. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. The choristers have raised thousands of pounds for charities such as Cancer and Leukaemia Research, The Red Cross, Heart Foundation and Tenovus as well as local charities and school groups. The choir’s future is secure and their motto of “Ymlaen Llanelli” will surely hold the choristers in good stead for another 50 years! The choir rehearses twice weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings at Furnace Community Hall, 7pm start. Visitors and new members are welcome.

This year, the choir’s musical director, D Eifion Thomas, has celebrated 43 years as Music Director of Côr Meibion Llanelli, having initially served as Accompanist to the Choir from 1965 until 1974 under the direction of founder-conductor Denver Phillips.

Mr Thomas has had the honour also of conducting the North American Welsh Societies National Gymanfa Ganu on five occasions – Vancouver (1980), Victoria, Canada (1990), Seattle (1994), and San Jose (2001).

His expertise in the field of choral performance has been recognised by the National Eisteddfod of Wales by inviting him to be one of three music adjudicators at the 2003 Eisteddfod in Meifod, and the 2011 Eisteddfod in Wrexham.

As a result of his work in the sphere of music in the community, Mr Thomas has been awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International and been inducted into the highest level of Wales’s Bardic Circle in 2007.

In 1998, Mr Thomas was the guest conductor at the London Welsh Festival of 1000 Male Voices, and was guest soloist at the Festival in 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2002.

In 2000, Mr Thomas was the conductor of the National Eisteddfod Choir when that Festival was held in Llanelli, and the Eisteddfod Choir’s singing under his direction at the Gymanfa Ganu of the anthem “Dyn A Aned O Wraig” still remains as one of the most memorable occasions in the Eisteddfod’s history.

Mr Thomas is a fine tenor soloist in his own right, and has appeared as soloist in performances of Handel’s “Messiah”, Haydn’s “Creation”, and “Mass in Time of War”, Stainer’s “Crucifiction”, Maunder’s “Olivet to Calvary”, Coleridge-Taylor’s “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast”, and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and “Lobegesang”.

The choir will be accompanied on stage by pianist Aled Maddock.

Mr Maddock attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera before graduating in Music at Bangor University. He is a former pupil of Madame Eileen Gethin-Jones and the Czech pianist Jana Frenklova.

After graduating in 1990, Mr Maddock was appointed as Musical Director of Craig y Nos Castle where he was responsible for arranging numerous musical events held at the famous Patti Theatre. During this time, he also began his association as accompanist with Neath and District Ladies Choir, Côr Meibion Onllwyn who performed with Côr Meibion Llanelli at the Brit Awards at Alexandra Palace and Bryncoch Male Voice Choir.

He was appointed Musical Director of Tonna Male Voice Choir in 1998 a post he held until 2002 forming his own mixed choir “Côr Al” in the Swansea Valley.

He has conducted the popular S4C religious programme “Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol” on several occasions from Ystradgynlais, Resolven, Ystalyfera and the Christmas service broadcast from St David’s Church Neath in 2015.

After obtaining his PGCE in 1994, Mr Maddock was appointed to his current post as Head of Music at his former school Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. He is particularly proud of the musical achievements of many past pupils, some of which grace our TV screens and concert halls throughout the world. He has toured extensively with the performing arts faculty visiting Canada, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore and has been Musical Director for two Urdd National Youth Productions, the most memorable being the revival of the Rock Opera “Jiwdas” which was performed in the open air in the ruins of the former Gnoll estate in Neath.

Tickets for Saturday’s Côr Meibion Llanelli concert are available from the Ffwrnes Theatre box office or from the Theatrau Sir Gar website.

See – http://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/christmas-with-the-choir