Rugby Union Wales to look afar for coach

Sunday 02 July 1995 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Rugby Union

Wales may be in the hands of a caretaker coach when they meet the world champions, South Africa, in Johannesburg on 2 September, but the long term search could go outside the country if the International Board give their blessing to paid coaches at their meeting in Paris next month.

"I expect us to look beyond Wales, if only to evaluate all the options," Vernon Pugh, the Welsh chairman, said after the WRU's annual meeting in Port Talbot on Saturday.

"The view is that we should not rush into this issue, the appointment should be one we are totally confident in to fill the role for at least two years.

"If the IB permit coaches to be paid, the certainty is that all the other leading countries will have paid coaches and we would be putting ourselves at a disadvantage if we didn't follow suit."

The Australian Alex Evans, who stepped in at short notice to take Wales to the World Cup, remains very much in the frame for the coaching duties on a more permanent basis.

But the international careers of several players could have perished in South Africa during the defeats by New Zealand and Ireland. "I would like to think that the make-up of the team to play South Africa in just two months time reflects players who will still be challenging when we host the 1999 World Cup," Pugh said.

However, the humiliations of a Five Nations' Championship whitewash and the early World Cup exit did not attract a single angry or anguished voice among delegates representing the 200-plus clubs.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in