The former Iris
h and Wasps coach Warren Gatland has been appointed as the new coach of Wales.
After their shock exit from this year's Rugby World Cup at the hands of Fiji Gareth Jenkins was sacked and the news that the New Zealander Gatland is to succeed him will give a much needed boost to Wales.
Gatland's appointment was confirmed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) at a news conference at noon today.
It's understood that Gatland met WRU officials last month in New Zealand at the start of the Union's worldwide search for a new coach and he arrived in Cardiff last weekend.
The former All Black played his first game for New Zealand in 1988. In the off season he developed close ties with Irish rugby and was named as national coach in 1998.
After an uninspiring three years as Irish boss he was sacked to make way for current coach Eddie O' Sullivan.
Gatland joined London Wasps in 2002 before taking over as Director of Rugby at the club.
He returned to his native New Zealand in 2005 delivering a national title for the Waikato National Provincial Championship side.
His first competitive game in charge of Wales comes on the 2nd of February when World Cup runners up England host the dragons at Twickenham in the Six Nations competition.
Im not convinced by Gatland. He was only average as Irish boss and we need someone extra special to get us going again - eric