NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Mike Ruddock's chances of becoming the next Wales coach have further increased.

WRU group chief executive David Moffett repeated yesterday that, ideally, the new man would be Welsh, but they want the best man for the job.

If Steve Hansen's successor is to be Welsh, it appears to be a straight fight between Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins and Ruddock (pictured).

The way Ruddock has taken the Dragons into third place in the Celtic League, despite major off-the-field problems, has not gone unnoticed.

"Notwithstanding the shambles off the field, the Dragons have been performing well which has been an incredible testimony to Mike Ruddock and the players," said Moffett.

The whole procedure for the next coach will be discussed at Thursday's WRU board meeting when things like time scale and panel members will be sorted out.

"My approach to Clive Woodward was slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it shows how serious we are about finding the best coach," said Moffett.

"We don't want to go to the last man standing, we are one of the great nations of the world with a great stadium and we want to spread the net far and wide.

"We would prefer it to be a Welshman if he can show us he has the vision to take us where we should be.

"We would like Wales to be consistently in the top five nations, that's the real aim, and he has to show us he won't be dissuaded.

"He's got to be tough like Steve Hansen, a lesser man would have walked away, but he didn't buckle, and I have to take my hat off to him."

Moffett said Hansen would not play a part in the selection process, and, ideally, the new man would be around for the Six Nations, taking charge for the two Tests in Argentina and one in South Africa next summer.

Moffett also hit out at plans Down Under, particularly from Australian counterpart John O'Neill, to form a new nine nations tournament.

He said that would downgrade the Six Nations and he accused O'Neill of already talking to England, going behind others' backs.

Moffett was firmly opposing the move at today's meeting of the Six Nations committee.

"The document essentially focuses on money, and there is a great deal of concern because of the effect it would have on the Six Nations," he said.

"They have already suggested pools and there is a large element of the Six Nations in it. Their plan would devalue the Six Nations and we cannot allow that.

"They suggest we play it in August as a warm-up for the club season, and the three Southern Hemisphere countries would be coming straight out of the Six Nations.

"It worries me that discussions have been held with one of our Six Nations partners, so there will be questions asked at the Six Nations meeting.

"There may be an argument for a global game, but coming at it piecemeal will get peoples' backs up. "It concerns me that the big five are pulling away from a financial and playing perspective.

The quickest route to the way rugby union is becoming like league is when there are only three or four countries who can win something. We can't afford that.

"People here love the Six Nations, 10,000 Welsh people go to Ireland, nowhere else do they do that, certainly not in Australia.

"This would have a severe impact on the Six Nations and we can't afford that.

"SANZAR should help the islands and not use the Northern Hemisphere unions."

Moffett believes central contracts for players could be the way ahead for the regions.

"I'd have thought anyone in the Welsh market would have central contracts in order to save Welsh rugby from themselves, in order that they don't lose money," he said.

"It's a way of ensuring clubs don't go broke."

Moffett stressed that while there was room for a player like Percy Montgomery the future must be about Welsh players.