Wayne Pivac is trading the rugby fields of New Zealand for the Italian Alps, emerging from semi-retirement to take the helm at Benetton Rugby until June 2028. The decision came after years of stepping back from elite coaching—a quiet life of mentoring local club coaches and scouting young talent in his adopted home. But when Benetton came calling, something shifted. "It'd have to be something special," he told his agent. One Zoom call led to another, and before long, the prize-winning coach who once led Wales to a Six Nations championship was heading to Italy.
Pivac's appointment marks a significant moment for a man who has left an indelible mark on rugby in three different nations. After guiding the Scarlets to the Pro12 title in 2017, he stepped into Warren Gatland's shoes as Wales head coach following the 2019 World Cup. During three years in the role, Pivac won 13 of 34 matches, including a historic victory against South Africa in Bloemfontein in 2022—the first time a Welsh men's coach had achieved a win on South African soil. He also clinched the 2021 Six Nations, a moment that defined his tenure. Yet his Wales chapter closed with disappointment: a 13-12 home defeat against Georgia in November 2022 that proved the breaking point.
Now he's bringing experience and ambition to Italy, with a contract that extends through mid-2028 and the possibility of two additional seasons. He's already made his first coaching hire: Rhys Patchell, the former Wales fly-half who played under Pivac at the Scarlets during their 2017 championship run. "I know Rhys pretty well and he has got a fantastic work ethic," Pivac said. Patchell, who brings technical mastery and tactical understanding of Pivac's preferred style, represents the kind of partnership that bridges generations—a 30-year age gap between coach and assistant that Pivac sees as mutually beneficial. "He's going to make a very good coach. He'll keep me young and hopefully I'll help him in the trying moments to relax and enjoy it for what it is."
The move to Benetton offers Pivac a chance at renewal. The Italian club has long been a stepping stone toward European prominence, and bringing in a coach with his championship pedigree and international experience signals ambition. For Pivac himself, the role represents a graceful re-entry into elite coaching after stepping away—not a return driven by necessity, but by genuine excitement about a new challenge in a country and rugby culture where his experience can reshape a program.
As for the disappointment that defined his Wales exit, Pivac has made peace with it. "I've no regrets," he reflected. "I enjoyed nine years in Wales and loved every minute of it." Come October, he'll return to the country that adopted him professionally when Benetton faces the Scarlets, a homecoming tinged with nostalgia for a place where he built something lasting. Now, at this new chapter in Italy, he has the chance to build something equally special.