male sports
United Rugby Championship updates
Benetton Rugby has officially announced that Wayne Pivac, previously the head coach for Wales, will assume the role of their new head coach starting next season.
The coach from New Zealand committed to a contract extending until June 30, 2028, with a provision to extend it by an additional two years.
It is believed that Pivac was chosen over several prominent candidates for the position, such as Jake White, a former coach for the Bulls, and Richard Cockerill, previously the head coach for Georgia.
Pivac commented, stating, “I found myself unable to decline the chance to coach Benetton, having previously competed against them in Treviso with the Scarlets. Each visit was thoroughly enjoyable: the games, the venue, the community, and the Italian way of life. The prospect of elevating the team’s performance and expanding on the foundations laid by past coaches is truly inspiring. Collaborating with highly skilled Italian athletes and contributing to their ongoing growth is an extra layer of incentive for me. To all our partners, financial backers, and naturally, our supporters, I wish to convey my delight in becoming part of the Benetton Rugby community. My aspiration is for the team to adopt a style of play that invigorates both the players and our loyal fanbase.”
At 63 years old, Pivac brings a wealth of cross-hemisphere experience to Treviso, having guided both club and national teams in New Zealand, Fiji, Wales, and Japan.
Having previously played as a lock and in the back row, his coaching journey commenced in Auckland. He then led Northland to achieve promotion in 1997 and secured three national championships with Auckland from 1999 to 2003.
His designation as Fiji’s head coach occurred in 2004, where he triumphed in the Pacific Tri-Nations. Following this, he returned to New Zealand’s regional rugby scene before relocating to Wales in 2014 to assume leadership of the Scarlets. During his tenure, he clinched the 2017 PRO12 championship with a 46-22 victory against Munster in the Dublin final, and in the subsequent season, guided them to a PRO14 final appearance and a Champions Cup semi-final.
The Welsh Rugby Union named him as Warren Gatland’s replacement in 2018. Pivac guided Wales to claim the 2021 Six Nations trophy, after which he spent two seasons coaching the NEC Green Rockets in Japan.
His selection comes after a comprehensive hiring process, which club president Antonio Pavanello characterized as involving 18 candidates from various international backgrounds.
Antonio Pavanello stated, “The decision regarding the head coach arose from an exhaustive and systematic procedure that examined 18 international profiles, each possessing expertise in the top global competitions. After our preliminary assessment, we established a concise list, and subsequent to a diligent technical and strategic review, Wayne Pivac emerged as the perfect individual to spearhead our athletic initiative.”
