Gatland appointed as Wales coach

Warren Gatland yesterday became the third New Zealander to be Wales's head coach and called for a reduction in the number of foreign players in the country. The former Wasps and Ireland coach, follows Graham Henry and Steve Hansen in switching from black to red and is Wales's 14th coach in 19 years.

"I know I am Wales's seventh coach in seven years," said the 44-year-old, who has signed a four-year deal worth a potential €1.8 million, "but when I became Ireland's coach in 1998, I was something like their ninth coach that decade and I lasted four years.

"It is not about me coming in, bringing my own back-up team and leaving nothing behind. I want to improve Welsh rugby, and that means working with coaches as well as players. It is important to develop close ties with the four regions.

"I think six foreign players in each squad is too many. If a coach signs someone from overseas on good money he will feel obliged to play him.

"That effectively means I am picking the Wales squad from 36 players.

"It is something that needs to be looked at: this weekend, for instance, Marty Holah (a New Zealander) and Martyn Williams (who has retired from Tests) are playing for their regions at breakaway and that reduces my options in the position."

Gatland starts work on December 1st. He will sound out the Wasps head coach, Shaun Edwards, about working as defence coach part-time but his other coaches are likely to be Welsh.

"It is essential to get the right balance," he said.

"I definitely need people from Wales. I had a good relationship with Shaun at Wasps, but I have not discussed the Wales position with him."

Gatland added: "There are some very talented players here. I remember watching Gavin Henson when he was playing under-21 rugby and remarking how good he was.

"I may have a reputation for being conservative but I like individualism. I will have no problem with someone like Gavin being a bit different as long as he trains and plays well."

Gatland, like the former Wales head coach Mike Ruddock last year, became a victim of player discontent while in charge of Ireland.

"I believe that if any team is going to be successful, a coach needs a core of experienced players to work closely with him," he said.

"I am confident that I can get Wales climbing up the world rankings.

"We have a tough start at Twickenham in the Six Nations and people have to be patient, but we will get there."

Former assistant Australia coach Scott Johnson has withdrawn from contention to replace John Connolly as the Wallabies' next head coach.

Johnson was one of six applicants for the job but withdrew just before interviews took place in Sydney yesterday.

"It's a personal decision and we respect that," Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high performance unit manager Pat Howard told reporters.

"The process will continue with the (other) five and a recommendation will be made out of that."

Ewen McKenzie, John Muggleton, Laurie Fisher, David Nucifora and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones are the other candidates.

The ARU is expected to make a decision next week.

Connolly, who replaced Eddie Jones in 2006 on a two-season contract, did not reapply for the job after the team were knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals.