Paul Moriarty takes up Newcastle Falcons coaching role

Moriarty left Scarlets in 2009

Newcastle Falcons head coach Alan Tait has added former Scarlets coach Paul Moriarty to his staff as an assistant.

Moriarty, 45, spent six years at the Magners League club after a spell with Swansea and also played alongside Tait in rugby league with Widnes.

"Paul will add a huge amount to the coaching team," Tait said.

"He has been there and done it at a high level over a considerable period of time and brings the fresh ideas that we need."

Moriarty replaces the outgoing Stuart Grimes, who left the club earlier this month when his contract expired.

Tait added: "As a newcomer to the head coaches role I was adamant that I wanted an experienced number two to help me along, and Paul is definitely someone who ticks that box.

"He is very highly regarded in the game, and during his time at the Scarlets he has helped them win the Magners League title as well as reaching the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

I just want to test myself and find out what the Premiership has to offer

Paul Moriarty

"Those are the sorts of standards we want to build towards, and Paul offers us some valuable outside input as well as his undoubted quality as a proven coach."

The former dual-code loose forward Moriarty is excited at the opportunity to renew acquaintances with a former team-mate in Tait, with whom he helped with Widnes to become domestic and world champions in 1989.

"I've known Alan Tait for many years, right through from our time at Widnes in 1989 to the present day, and we've always kept in touch," said Moriarty.

"Even when I was with the Scarlets we would meet up whenever we played the Scottish teams, and he would often ring me to ask my opinion about guys playing in Wales that he might have been looking to sign.

"Obviously the situation has changed at Newcastle now with Alan becoming the head coach, and from my own perspective for the last year or so I'd really been looking for a new challenge outside of Wales," Moriarty said.

"It's a chance for me to broaden my career and my perspective in a different environment.

"I wouldn't say in Wales it was a comfort zone as such, but I just want to test myself and find out what the Premiership has to offer.

"It's certainly a competition I've always admired, and it's a great chance personally to take on this new opportunity at Newcastle."