Johnson vague on future

Wales caretaker boss Scott Johnson has reiterated that any decision about his coaching future "goes deeper than rugby". Speculation is rife that Johnson will return to Australia following this season’s Six Nations.

Newly-appointed Wallabies supremo John Connolly is understood to be planning a meeting with Johnson on a flying visit to Britain, having reportedly targeted him for a place in his coaching team alongside current Bath assistant Michael
Foley.

Johnson though, also has pressing family issues to contend with in Australia, which look likely to speed up a return Down Under later this month following Wales’ final Six Nations games against Italy and France.

"If ‘Knuckles’ (Connolly) is coming over, I am sure he will pay me a visit, there will be no doubt about that," said Johnson. "I think it is a privilege that I’ve been put in charge here (Wales) for a little while. I love this country, I love this team and it has played a really important part of my life.

"But this all goes deeper than rugby. Whether they put me in charge of Cambodia or they put me in charge of Wales, it wouldn’t affect my decision. This is not about Scott Johnson, this is about other people. I wish people would start believing me when I say that."

Fall-out, meanwhile, from Grand Slam-winning coach Ruddock’s shock exit just 11 months after he masterminded a Six Nations title, looks set to continue tonight.

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Steve Lewis and chairman David Pickering begin a series of meetings which will see them address all 245 member clubs through nine district sessions, starting in Ammanford.

"The aim of the roadshow is to provide an open, honest and frank explanation of the rationale behind recent decisions taken by executive staff in relation to Mike Ruddock and his position," said Lewis. "We will be presenting the same facts to the clubs as we have already presented to the WRU board of directors on two occasions.

"We don’t want anyone to be under any misapprehensions as to real facts in this issue. They will be hearing the facts straight from source, so there can be no confusion or misunderstanding based on hearsay. I am looking forward to getting the truth out there to the people that matter — our members who are the grass roots of Welsh rugby."