Trio rule out Wales job

Eddie Jones, Nick Mallett and Mike Ruddock have all ruled themselves out of the running to be the new Wales coach.

Wales will have to extend their search for a new coach to succeed Gareth Jenkins as three top candidates for the job, Eddie Jones, Nick Mallett and Mike Ruddock, all ruled themselves out of the running. Jenkins was sacked as Wales coach after Saturday's shock 38-34 loss to Fiji which sent them crashing out of the World Cup at the group stages. Defeat in Nantes saw Wales slip to their worst World Cup showing in the professional era and left Jenkins with a record of six wins and a draw from 20 Tests in charge. WRU chief executive Roger Lewis has already admitted the search for a new coach is well underway, but he will not be happy to learn that Jones, Mallett and Ruddock - all early front-runners for the post - have ruled themselves out. Former Australia coach Jones led the Wallabies to the World Cup final four years ago, and is currently advising the South Africa squad in France, but he is intent on joining Saracens after the tournament. "I am committed to joining Saracens after the World Cup," Jones told The Guardian. "I have always said that I want to return to international coaching one day, but it has to be the right job at the right time. "I have not given the Wales position any thought. I am concentrating on the World Cup and will then turn my attention to the Premiership." South African Mallett also has the top international credentials that Wales want in their new man, after he set a new record of 17 consecutive wins in charge of the Springboks, while also guiding Stade Francais to consecutive French titles. Mallett though says that he is already deep into negotiations to take over from Pierre Berbizier as Italy coach. "I have gone quite far down the road in my negotiations with Italy," Mallett told the Western Mail. "There will probably be an announcement on that front after the World Cup. "There are just one or two things to be sorted out, but that is my preferred choice." Asked if his head could be turned by the Welsh job, he added: "I don't think so. "It wouldn't be fair on the Italian federation. Having basically agreed on 90 percent of the issues, it would be wrong for me to turn round and renege on that. "I am too far down the road." Former Wales coach Ruddock would be a more controversial choice after his acrimonious departure from the role early last year, but he still ha strong support in Wales after leading them to a first Grand Slam for 27 years in 2005. However, Worcester's director of rugby said: ""I appreciate all the support in Wales and I still get lots of letters of support from Welsh people, but I'm staying in Worcester for the foreseeable future. "It is nice to be linked again with coaching at international level but I am enjoying the challenge at Worcester and I am under contract there for the next three years." The withdrawal of the highly-decorated trio from the running has increased speculation that Canterbury Crusaders coach Robbie Deans might be the man the WRU will turn to as they look to turn around Wales's flagging fortunes.