Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac has revealed he held informal talks about taking the Wales job in 2019 as he ruled out re-signing George North this summer.
Warren Gatland is due to step down as Wales boss following next year's Rugby World Cup, with Pivac believed to be on the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) five-man shortlist for the post.
The Kiwi, who signed a contract extension with his region until 2020 last October, has previously said he would consider an approach from the WRU, but insisted recent talks were "nothing formal ... just discussions around my contract here."
"As you'd expect, I'm sure most coaches at the highest level in Wales would have had conversations," he said.
"But there has not been a formal interview."
However, Pivac did expand further on the possibility of the region bringing North back to the Parc y Scarlets.
The Wales wing, 25, has agreed to return to Wales from Northampton on a National Dual Contract next season, although it has not been announced which region he will join.
Scarlets have first option on their former player but Pivac revealed that the club -- linked with Cheetahs fullback Clayton Blommetjies -- had already signed an unnamed back three and it is not North.
"We have signed a back three player and we're only signing one," Pivac said.
"We haven't been informed where George is going by anybody -- I think everybody's still waiting -- but you can only wait so long and we have signed a player in the back three."