“We have a pressing time frame if we are to get a new Head Coach installed before the team heads to Argentina. We have already received a significant amount of interest in the position and we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to find the best man possible to lead the Welsh team into the 2007 Rugby World Cup,” said Lewis. “The Board have approved our plans for recruitment, the terms of reference for the post and have appointed a five man recruitment panel – just as they did two years ago when Mike Ruddock was appointed.
“The challenge now is to find the right man to fill what is one of the most important positions in Welsh life.
“In an ideal world the person would be Welsh, but we are not making that a condition for applicants. Quite simply, we want the best man for the job.”
The new ‘Big Five’ selection panel for the coaching role will be David Pickering (WRU Chairman), Steve Lewis (WRU Chief Executive), Mostyn Richards (WRU High Performance Manager), Alan Jones (Chairman, WRU Game Policy Committee) and Gerald Davies (WRU Board Member).
“It has been agreed that the panel will have its first meeting as soon as possible after the final Six Nations match against France. We will also then advertise the job description for the first time on the WRU website,” added Lewis. “Filling this position is always a vitally important job and, with a tour to Argentina coming up in June and the 2007 Rugby World Cup looming large on the horizon, the panel needs to move quickly to secure a quality candidate. With that in mind, we hope to be in a position to interview and appoint in April.”
Short listed candidates will be asked to make a formal presentation to the panel and it will be down to the WRU Board to ratify the recommendation from the panel. Applicants have been given until 7 April to submit their CVs to the panel.
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