LLANELLI Scarlets' Gareth Jenkins (pictured) is the man to take over as Wales rugby coach and if necessary the Welsh Rugby Union should go cap in hand to get him.

That is the view of three of Gwent's most famous rugby sons, ex-Newport, Wales and British Lions star David Watkins, Pontypool, Wales and Lions front row legend Graham Price and Newport Gwent Dragons coach and former Wales fly half Paul Turner.

The Welsh Rugby Union are scouring the world for a replacement for Mike Ruddock and have set an April 7 deadline for applications.

Acting Wales head coach Scott Johnson ruled himself out of the reckoning yesterday when deciding to return to Australia for personal reasons to become backs coach to John Connolly.

Fellow overseas candidates such as New Zealanders Warren Gatland (ex-Ireland coach), John Kirwan (ex-Italy) and John Mitchell (ex All Blacks) as well as ex-Springboks coach Nick Mallett are reportedly among thirty candidates already interested in the job.

But the Gwent trio are adamant Wales must appoint a Welshman and that the country's most successful coach, Jenkins, famously snubbed by the Wales hierarchy when they appointed Ruddock, is the man.

"Quite frankly, since the game has gone professional only one club has seemed to have managed it in a proper and efficient manner and that's Llanelli," said Watkins.

"Gareth Jenkins has been a sensible and methodical coach and even though I've had my ups and downs with him, he more than anybody has all the attributes we require.

"With the World Cup coming up and with the attitude and relationship he has with players generally, Wales would be best served by somebody like him.

"Serious questions have to be asked about the people who head up our game, primarily Steve Lewis (WRU chief executive) and David Pickering (chairman).

"But if common sense prevails, it might well be they'll have to go cap in hand to Jenkins and accept the team he would want with him (Pickering yesterday urging Jenkins to apply and claiming past differences were forgotten).

"All the foreign coaches available now at some time or another have been found wanting and have been sacked."

Turner commented: "Whoever heads it up has got to be the top Welshman. It's OK to bring guys in from abroad on the periphery which has worked in the past.

"I'm still miffed as to why we've changed coaches but there are coaches in Wales at the moment who understand the Welsh psyche.

"I'm a big Gareth Jenkins fan. I've said that openly in the past.

"For whatever reason he was overlooked last time, but I don't see that we need to look any further this time."

Price said: "With the World Cup in 18 months, a foreign coach would mean a lot of disruption.

"We've got a style which benefits us, to keep the ball away from physical contact as far as possible and to keep the ball alive.

"When new coaches come in they always say they'll have an open mind, but they never do.

"They have their own ideas about the style of rugby they want and if, for instance, we tried to play the game the New Zealand way we'd come unstuck straight away.

"The man I feel is the man for the job isn't going to get it -Mike Ruddock. That leaves Gareth Jenkins, who seems to have shifted ground after saying he wouldn't be able to work with the top people in Welsh rugby. That's the door we have to go through because of all the Welsh coaches he is the best qualified. However, having overlooked him once it would be an amazing U-turn and if U-turns are possible, then why not go back to Ruddock?"