Pickering leaves Welsh post

Pickering: "In my time we've had some notable landmarks"

Wales team manager David Pickering has stepped down after three years as Graham Henry's right-hand man.

The former Welsh skipper cited "personal and business" reasons, but intends to fight for his seat on the Welsh Rugby Union general committee this summer.

He said: "I took over the Welsh side with Graham three years ago just after we'd lost by 96 points in South Africa. Cardiff and Swansea had quit our top division and there was a lot of work to be done.

"I wanted to try to improve the structure of the game in Wales and I'm glad that in that time we've had some notable landmarks.

I have to think about my business and my family life

David Pickering

"We beat the Springboks for the first time, equalling the Welsh record of 10 successive victories and winning back-to-back games against France in Paris for the first time since the 50s.

"We have had a 70 percent success rate with the Welsh team and I think things have improved.

"But this job is not my main income stream and I have to think about my business and my family life. I have a young family with another child on the way."

Pickering's post has been an honorary one and next week the WRU will begin the task of appointing three new full-time coaches to join Henry.

Henry came to Wales on a five-year £250,000-a-year contract and the three new coaching appointments, for a backs coach, forwards coach and defensive coach, will cost another £200,000 a year.

Pickering believes future managers of Wales need to be full-time appointments, although he is examining an offer from Henry to remain in touch with the national team working on the business development side.

The former Wales flanker believes his replacement should have a similar "empathy" for the game and hinted that there are already several suitable candidates being looked at from within Welsh rugby.