Muggleton worked for 10 years as part of the Australian coaching team

Llanelli Scarlets have appointed one of the world's top defence coaches to work alongside new head coach Nigel Davies.

John Muggleton, who has signed a two-year deal, was part of Australia's 1999 World Cup winning coaching staff and helped them beat the 2001 Lions.

He will be joined by new fitness coach Brad Harrington who joins from Super 14 finalists the New South Wales Waratahs.

Paul Moriarty remains in his forwards coach role but Robert Jones and Wayne Proctor will leave by mutual consent.

Sydney-born Muggleton spent 10 years with Australia as assistant coach from 1997 until 2007 during which time he also had spells with the Waratahs and Queensland Reds as defence coach.

The 48-year-old, who will take up his new role with the region from 1 July, said: "The Scarlets are one of world rugby's big names and I look forward with great anticipation to helping them achieve their ambitious future goals."

His fellow Australian Harrington starts his role as Llanelli's new fitness guru this month in time to prepare the pre-season fitness programme.

I feel the people we've got are the best in their fields at this moment in time Head coach Nigel Davies

The 34-year-old, also from Sydney, arrives after a year as assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Waratahs.

He spent the previous three years in a similar position with Leinster and assisted the Irish national side in their build-up to last year's World Cup.

"It's a real thrill to be joining the Scarlets at such a pivotal time in their history," said Harrington.

"The new player signings, the new coaching team and the new stadium show that the region plans a big future."

Meanwhile, Moriarty will continue where he left off at the end of last season coaching the forwards completing the line-up in the Scarlets new look coaching set-up.

All three will work alongside head coach Davies, who was appointed in the middle of May following the shock departure of former director of rugby Phil Davies at the end of April.

Davies is looking forward to working with his new coaching colleagues and said: "I'm fully aware of John and I think he'll fit in well in our environment he'll be a big part of our team.

"Brad is a very interesting appointment as he's relatively young in the field of conditioning.

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"He's very focussed on strength and power which is an area which I think we need to move along in our game.

"I feel the people we've got are the best in their fields at this moment in time."

Of the Scarlets latest two signings, chief executive Stuart Gallacher added: "They are two very important signings for us and I'm sure will be very successful here.

"Nigel and I sat down and he indicated what he wanted to do. He wanted Paul Moriarty to continue in his role with the forwards but he was looking to bring in some fresh people and some fresh ideas elsewhere - particularly defensively.

"So we set about trying to trawl the world for the right candidates and we're delighted that we've got the two guys that we set out from the start to get."

To help make way for the new coaching set-up backs coach Jones, who is rumoured to be moving to Cardiff Blues, and fitness coach Proctor have both agreed to relinquish their roles.

But Gallacher said there were no hard feelings about their departures and said: "It was all very amicable and they both understand why we have taken the decisions that we have.

"We thank Robert and Wayne for the work they've put in on behalf of the Scarlets and we wish them all the best for the future."