Welsh rugby deal delay fears after Cardiff crisis with doubts over head coach role before Japan tour

The WRU is still deciding on a title for what has so far been touted as a director of rugby role given the breadth of the job’s remit.

Former Football Association, England Rugby and Team GB performance expert Dave Reddin is the leading contender with Tierney suggesting an appointment is expected “very, very soon” having had a “busy couple of days” sorting the Cardiff issue.

Tierney said the successful candidate would then be involved in appointing a new head coach, but that the WRU has already drawn up a shortlist to succeed Warren Gatland on a permanent basis.

Gatland’s mid-2025 Six Nations exit led to Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt taking charge of Wales on an interim basis.

“We’ve done a lot of work on this, looking at who is out there, analysing playing style, who works well with younger teams and who also understands the Welsh system,” she said.

“We have a target list of who we want to go at. Of course they all want to know who will be their line manager.

“I’ve already spoken to the potential new director of rugby about these things and we’d like to appoint a new head coach shortly after that.

“But depending on their contract and notice period, which is often six months, we might need to have an alternative [coaching] plan for Japan, which we are working on.”