NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Mike Ruddock wants to know the outcome of talks on the future of the region before deciding whether to apply for the Wales job.

The post will become vacant at the end of the Six Nations Championship after Steve Hansen yesterday confirmed his decision to return to his native New Zealand to be with his 13 and 16-year-old daughters.

"I would like to sit down with our owners and wee where we are going after restructuring. Then I will make my mind up whether to apply or not," said Ruddock today.

"My focus is so much with the Dragons, it has occupied my total concentration. And with Europe jusr around the corner I don't want to get distracted.

"I need to find out the effects of restructuring and see where the Dragons are going before making my mind up."

The Welsh front runners for the job are Ruddock, Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins and Phil Davies of Leeds.

Hansen says his successor should be Welsh - but only if the leading candidate is good enough.

And he emphasised: "There is a lot of hard work to be done and he would have to stand up and follow his convictions. He would have to understand the job is not just about today."

Hansen ruled himself out of the New Zealand job, saying he would not be applying.

"I'd be interested one day, but I'm not eligible and won't be applying," he said.

"I'm living in Wales. Obviously there's a lot of disappointment in New Zealand, but it's easy to blame the coach. I've been under the cosh, but you've got to analyse the problems and make the right decision."

Hansen, who congratulated England on winning the World Cup and confirmed Colin Charvis is likely to stay captain after moving to France instead of Japan, justified his approach in Australia.

"In the early games we had to win at all costs, so we kicked the ball a lot more," he said.

"In the last two games the burden of having to qualify had been lifted and, without that pressure, the players did things they had shown in training.

"We were good enough to beat England, and to stand up against the two best sides in the world will be good for confidence.

"We should be going into the Six Nations with a new enthusiasm and self belief, though we've got to keep our feet on the ground."