Recently appointed All Blacks assistant coach Brad Mooar says the lure of being involved with New Zealand was too strong to ignore and behind his decision to seek an early release from his contract with Scarlets.
Mooar was only months into his three-year contract with the Llanelli-based side when he received a call from Ian Foster, asking him to be apart of his coaching staff.
Mooar will remain with Scarlets until the end of the Pro14 season in June, and will link up with the All Blacks ahead of the July international window where they face Wales and Scotland.
Speaking for the first time since being named as the All Blacks attack coach, Mooar said he was stunned to get a call from Foster, adding that a job with New Zealand was the only thing that could have persuaded him to leave Scarlets.
"You can't control the timing of the opportunities. As a Kiwi lad you want to play for the All Blacks. I was always available but never picked," he said.
"In terms of coaching it is the pinnacle to represent your country and the opportunity to do that has a magnificent pull to it.
"It was a trying time to work through that and knowing which way you were going to go. You balance that with doing something you love here at the Scarlets."
Mooar revealed how the opportunity arose, with a phone call with Foster.
"It was pretty simple. Ian Foster rings up and we have a conversation.
"We have collaborated for a long time and have a good relationship and exchange ideas regardless of who we are coaching.
"He was putting his team together and thought I can add to that. He rings up and says ‘I know you are in a role that you are loving and we want to talk about another one'.
"We talked through that and things rolled from there. It is grown adults having adult conversations and however difficult they might be it is important to be honest and empathetic and maintain integrity."
The others in Foster's coaching line up include former Hurricanes coach John Plumtree, former All Blacks prop Greg Feek, and defence coach Scott McLeod.
Mooar added that he hopes he can lead Scarlets to some silverware before he leaves.
"Once a Scarlet always a Scarlet and what is dear to my heart is what has been started here continues on and I am willing to be part of that conversation [with finding a successor].
"It was always important to me it was always going to be the end of the season and we get to finish what we started and leave the place in a position where it is ready to explode and go forward.
"It would please me 100 percent to see the side and the club kicking on."
