Ex-Aussie league player Muggleton played both second row and centre

Defence coach John Muggleton is to leave the Llanelli-based Scarlets in the summer when his contract expires.

He signed a two-year deal to assist coach Nigel Davies at Parc y Scarlets in 2008 but will not renew his deal.

Muggleton leaving comes just days after the Scarlets failed to qualify for next season's Heineken Cup via the league.

Scarlets coach Nigel Davies said: "John has had a significant role in working with our younger players in the squad and developing our team as a whole."

The youthful Scarlets are undergoing a transitional period and failed to qualify for European rugby's premier cup competition for the first time since the Heineken Cup's first year.

The Scarlets' defence has been criticised this season as the Welsh region suffered a disappointing season - and that was the 50-year-old's prime concern.

Muggleton - who was part of Australia's 1999 World Cup winning coaching staff and helped them beat the 2001 Lions - insists he will be continuing in rugby coaching but did not reveal the next step in his coaching career.

"I have enjoyed my time in Llanelli and it has been great to work within this very passionate rugby region with an amazing heritage," he said.

The former Australian rugby league international, who has almost 20 years coaching experience, is to leave at the end of the season as the Scarlets look to restructure their coaching set-up for next season.

And Davies is expected to announce his new look coaching team in the next few weeks.

"He was brought here on a fixed term contract for two years to help us shape and develop this new-look squad," said Davies.

"And has been an important part of our coaching set-up during the past two seasons.

"We are grateful for all the work that he has done for the Scarlets and for his commitment to us and wish him all the best in his future coaching roles."

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