Henry pays price for Wales's dramatic decline

Six Nations/News Round-up: Graham Henry has resigned as coach of Wales by mutual consent, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced last night..

The New Zealander had been under increasing pressure following Sunday's debacle in Dublin where Ireland thrashed Wales by a record 54-10 in the opening round of this season's Six Nations tournament.

A WRU statement said: "The Welsh Rugby Union general committee regrets to have to announce that after a meeting between the Wales national coach Graham Henry and senior officers of the Union, it has been agreed by both parties that Graham will leave his position this week.

"Both sides have thought deeply and believe this decision has been taken with the best interests of Welsh rugby in mind."

Glanmor Griffiths, chairman of the WRU general committee, said: "The WRU general committee would like to thank Graham Henry for his contribution to Welsh rugby since his appointment as our national coach in August 1998, and would like to wish him and his family all the best in the future."

Henry took charge in 1998 following another mammoth defeat - 98-13 by South Africa - and was given a five-year contract which was due to run until next year's World Cup.

His contract, reported to be worth £250,000Stg a year, made him the highest paid coach in Welsh rugby history and one of the best rewarded anywhere.

His contract, which was due to expire after the 2003 World Cup, began to look increasingly untenable after several former Wales internationals criticised him in the media on Monday.

"You have got to blame the players for a start, but when you've got huge investment in top-end coaches and players, coaches earning £250,000 a year have to hold their hands up," former Wales captain and flyhalf Gareth Edwards told BBC Radio.

Dai Watkins, who played both rugby union and league for Wales, told the BBC: "We didn't seem to have any sort of game plan and the coaches have to take responsibility for that."

Ironically, Henry was nicknamed the "Great Redeemer" three years ago when he guided Wales to an impressive run of results, including a surprise victory over England at Twickenham.

But memories of that initial success began to fade fast following a disappointing 2001 Six Nations and a surprise 30-16 defeat to Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.

While Henry ponders his future - possibly away from rugby - the WRU must find a new man, and quickly.

Wales A coach Mike Ruddock, former supremo at Swansea and Leinster and now in charge at Ebbw Vale, could be the short-term solution.

Another Kiwi Steve Hansen, recently appointed by Henry as his assistant, could be asked to take temporary charge.

But the man most rugby watchers in Wales would want to take over is Llanelli coach Gareth Jenkins. He recently steered Llanelli to their second Heineken Cup semi-final in three seasons and has the pedigree and respect required for Welsh rugby's top job.

FRANCE: (squad v Wales) Backs: F Galthie (Stade Francais, capt), P Mignoni (Beziers), F Michalak (Toulouse), G Merceron (Montferrand), F Gelez (Agen), D Traille (Pau), T Marsh (Montferrand), A Rougerie (Montferrand), J Marlu (Montferrand), N Brusque (Biarritz), X Garbajosa (Toulouse) Forwards: J-Jacques Crenca (Agen), P de Villiers (Stade Francais), J-Baptiste Poux (Narbonne), R Ibanez (Castres), Y Bru (Toulouse), D Auradou (Stade Francais), O Brouzet (Northampton), F Pelous (Toulouse), T Privat (Beziers), S Hall (Beziers), S Betsen (Biarritz), E Vermeulen (Montferrand), I Harinordoquy (Pau).

SCOTLAND (Squad v Italy). Backs: A Henderson (Glasgow), G Beveridge (Glasgow), D Hodge (Edinburgh), B Laney (Edinburgh), K Logan (London Wasps), J McLaren (Glasgow), G Metcalfe (Glasgow), C Paterson (Edinburgh), B Redpath (Sale Sharks), G Townsend (Castres). Forwards: G Bulloch (Glasgow), G Graham (Newcastle), S Grimes (Newcastle), N Hines (Edinburgh), M Leslie (Edinburgh), S Murray (Saracens), J Petrie (Glasgow), B Pountney (Northampton, captain), R Russell (Saracens), C Smith (Edinburgh), T Smith (Northampton), M Stewart (Northampton), S Taylor (Edinburgh), J White (Glasgow).