Rugby Union: Ruddock's County Clubs Lead Push to Bring Down Wales Board

Clubs in Wales are ready to call an emergency general meeting of the Welsh Rugby Union to discuss last month's departure of the national head coach Mike Ruddock and the administration of the game in general, a move which would slow down the appointment of Ruddock's successor.

The WRU yesterday started advertising for a new head coach and hopes to make an appointment by the middle of next month but, with clubs in District A, which covers Gwent, the home county of Ruddock and the Union's chief executive Steve Lewis, mobilising their forces, an EGM would have to be held within three weeks of clubs calling it.

Gwent's motion is likely to demand a vote of no confidence in the board of the WRU. If passed, every director would be obliged to resign and would not be allowed to stand again for office for two years. It is questionable how much support the bid would receive outside District A, with other regions believing the answer to the problems which have blown up in recent months lies in filling the position of group chief executive, which has remained vacant since David Moffett left last December.

The WRU has hoped that the passing of time - it is five weeks since Ruddock's departure - and Wales's improved showing against France last Saturday would assuage the initial anger and indignation of the rank and file, but the clubs view what happened with Ruddock as the latest in a series of management decisions that they feel uncomfortable with and believe that an administrative shake-up is both warranted and overdue.

Scott Johnson, who took over from Ruddock on a caretaker basis for the final three matches of the Six Nations, was expected to reveal yesterday whether he would be returning to Australia to become one of the Wallabies' assistant coaches but he did not declare his intentions when he met the Wales squad and management on Sunday night.

Australia are reported to be making an announcement tomorrow on the make-up of their management team under the new head coach John Connolly who has succeeded Eddie Jones. Johnson is expected to be named as one of his assistants, along with the Bath forwards coach Mike Foley.