Welsh club Scarlets have granted an early release for Brad Mooar to join Ian Foster's All Blacks coaching team.

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Scarlets agreed last December to release Mooar to the All Blacks at the end of the 2019/20 season but with European rugby shut down by the Covid-19 pandemic, the west Wales club has decided to let him go now and allow his appointed successor, fellow New Zealander Glenn Delaney, to take over after serving as Mooar's defence coach.

In a statement on their website, the Scarlets commented: "Following discussions with the coaching group and management it has been decided that when the rugby group does return to Parc y Scarlets following the Covid-19 lockdown it will be with the coaches and players for the 2020/21 season''.

Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said Mooar - in his first season in Wales - had "made an indelible impact in his brief time at the Scarlets, instilling a culture that new head coach Glenn Delaney and his coaching team will look to build on''.

"We would like to thank Brad for everything he has done at the Scarlets since his arrival last summer and wish him, Anna and the children, Laura, Charlie and Sam well for their return to New Zealand.

"In a short period of time Brad has immersed himself as part of the Scarlets family and culture and his popularity among our supporters speaks volumes."

Mooar joins a new look All Blacks coaching line-up of Foster (head coach), John Plumtree (forwards), Greg Feek (scrum) and Scott McLeod (defence).