The former Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Pontypridd fly-half ended his playing career with a glut of trophies at Sardis Road in 2014 for a stint at Newport.
He took on a teaching role and by his own admission could never have seen himself working alongside the likes of Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies on a daily basis.
Now Scarlets backs coach, Flanagan said: “It has been surreal.
“When I finished as a player I went to Newport High School and took a teaching and head of rugby job and I did think my career would be heading that way.
“I’d advise most players to get a proper job when you finish – it’s very different!
“An opportunity came up at the Scarlets as a skills and kicking coach alongside Mark Jones and I interviewed for that as you do miss the day-to-day rugby environment.
“There are certain characters in rugby you’ll never meet in any other walk of life! Gareth Jenkins was really good for me when the Scarlets employed me at the time with Mark and Simon Easterby.
“Wayne Pivac taking over just continued that. I’ve had great experiences and I’m very fortunate to be in the role I’m in. I hope it continues.”
Dai Flanagan during training in Llanelli
I’ve had great experiences and I’m very fortunate to be in the role I’m in. I hope it continues
When Jones and Easterby departed Parc y Scarlets, Flanagan was parachuted in on short notice and worked alongside Pivac, Byron Hayward and Ioan Cunningham.
He returned to the academy system when Pivac became Scarlets head coach and employed Stephen Jones, but has risen slowly and impressively through the pathway in Llanelli.
Flanagan produced one of his best games as a regional player when he booted the Blues to a Heineken Cup win over Stade Francais in 2007.
Now he is impressing as a coach and added: “I think back now to six years ago when Mark left in and we had nine games left. It was me, Byron, Wayne and Ioan.
“We took over for the last few games and I helped out with the backs.
“That experience was invaluable for me because I knew at the time I wasn’t ready. I learned a lot of lessons leaning on Byron and Wayne in that period.
“We had good backs at that time like Rhys Priestland and Regan King who helped me along.
“Having the ability to take those learnings back into the pathway and my age grade work made me a million times more prepared when I was given the opportunity to take my current job.”
Flanagan has been head coach of Llanelli RFC and also worked with Wales at Under-20 level. Since Pivac departed to coach Wales he has also learned from Brad Mooar and Glenn Delaney.
“I’m loving it day to day. Brad summed it up last year when he said it’s like being a kid in a sweet shop working here,” Flanagan said.
“You work with not only some of the best players in Britain, but also some of the future best players in Britain. I’ve had some decent education working behind Stephen when I was in the pathway.
“I’ve got a great relationship with him and we see the game in the same way. We believe players need to be able to make decisions and express themselves.
“Brad followed along that journey and Glenn has allowed us to continue that.
“It’s been very good for me personally and I’m enjoying every minute. I just want to get better every day and help the Scarlets become the best regional team.
“We are a very ambitious club and you’ve seen Sean Fitzpatrick talking about that. We put that sort of expectation on ourselves.”
