THE Welsh Rugby Union today confirmed the worst kept secret in Welsh rugby - acting head coach Scott Johnson is returning home to be an assistant coach with the Australian RU.

The man regarded as possibly the greatest skills coach in world rugby and the architect of Wales' 'sexy rugby' which brought them the Grand Slam last year, will leave when his contract expires in May.

He has long said he was likely to return home for personal family reasons and that situation has not changed.

In a statement he said: "I have loved every single moment of my time in Wales - it is one of the greatest rugby communities and countries in the world. It has become my home and I will be sorry to leave.

"It has not been an easy decision but, for once, I have had to put my family first.

"The way in which the Welsh players have responded to the work I've done with them has been fantastic. They are a very special group and Wales hasn't seen the best of them.

"When Graham Henry first invited me to come to Wales I didn't really know what I was letting myself in for. Since then... I have enjoyed a life changing experience.

"I wish the new head coach all the luck in the world and the management team continued success. As for the Welsh players I've worked with, they know how I feel about them.

"I would love the opportunity to come back to Welsh rugby in some capacity in the near future as I could think of no better place to settle."

WRU chief executive Steve Lewis said: "Scott never made any secret of the issues that would ultimately determine whether or not he would seek to stay in Wales.

"I would like to thank him for the important role he played both as a skills coach under Steve Hansen and Mike Ruddock and as the interim head coach in recent months."

Johnson's loss comes after three games in charge of Wales after the shock departure of Mike Ruddock and, with fitness coach Andrew Hore also going, leaves defence coach Clive Griffiths as the only remaining member of Wales' Grand Slam team.