BYRON Hayward is leaving his role with the Newport Gwent Dragons academy to become defence coach at the Scarlets.

The 45-year-old from Blaina, who won two caps, heads to west Wales after being skills coach with the Dragons’ age-grade teams.

The former fly-half/full-back will also leave his role as head coach of Wales Under-20s, who he led at the Junior World Championship this summer.

“It's nice to be back at the top end of rugby and back into week to week intense high level rugby,” said Hayward.

“When you come into the professional game it's relentless and quite challenging at times as I found out in the Premiership with Sale but that's what I'm looking forward to.”