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WAYNE PIVAC AND RHYS PATCHELL ARE ON THE MOVE 18:30, 20 May 2025Updated 10:37, 22 May 2025 Former Wales coach Wayne Pivac and outside-half Rhys Patchell have left Japanese club NEC Green

Rockets. Pivac joined the club in August 2023 following their relegation from the Japanese top-flight. During his first season in charge the club finished second but narrowly missed out on

promotion after falling short in a promotion/relegation play-off against Black Rams Tokyo. This season they finished third just three points behind top of the table Toyota Shuttles after

their playing budget was reduced by 10%. The former Scarlets coach had made the decision to leave earlier on in the season and is now assessing his options while defence coach Paul Feeney is

also departing the club. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Pivac did a sterling job with the

Scarlets, winning the old PRO12 in 2017 and leading the Welsh club to a Champions Cup semi-final the following season. After succeeding Warren Gatland as Wales boss, Pivac won the Six

Nations title and Triple Crown in 2021 but left his role in 2022 after a difficult run of results which included a first ever home defeat to Georgia. Article continues below Former Wales

outside-half Patchell is also leaving the Green Rockets. The 32-year-old had signed a two-year contract but has decided to take up a break clause to follow Pivac out of the club. Patchell,

who has won 22 caps for Wales, enjoyed a stint at New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders before his move to Japan. JOIN WALESONLINE RUGBY'S WHATSAPP CHANNEL HERE TO GET THE

BREAKING NEWS SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE FOR FREE The former Cardiff and Scarlets playmaker still has plenty to offer the game and would be a stellar pick-up for one of Wales'

professional clubs. Patchell is a triple-threat player with a tremendous passing and kicking game, while he is also a danger with ball in hand. Speaking about his move to Japan on an episode

of 'Jonathan' on S4C in March, Patchell spoke about his life in the Far East and admitted he missed Wales at times. "This might sound really deep now," he said.

"But I didn't think 'hiraeth' was a real thing. "I thought it was just this really wishy-washy thing that people spoke about which wasn't real. Get the latest

breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "When you reach the longest stint I've done out there, 10 or 12 weeks,

by then I was ready to come home. Article continues below "I wanted my fix of Wales."