Wales' fitness and conditioning coach Andrew Hore is to return to his homeland in autumn to take up a post with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

The 33-year-old has spent three years with Wales but has been tempted back down under by the offer of working with New Zealand's 14 rugby academies.

"It's been a very hard decision to come to. I felt very much that I wanted to move away from a purely hands-on conditioning position into more of a high performance management role," said Hore.

"That is my passion and that is where I want to go with my career. In my new role, I will have responsibility for player development.

"With a new family, my wife and I feel this is the right time for us to move."

WRU chief executive Steve Lewis said the hunt for Hore's successor was already well advanced.

"We have been searching throughout the rugby world for a suitable replacement for Andrew and we are close to securing a first-class candidate who we feel will fit in well with the current Welsh management team," he said.