DAVIES, Davies and Jenkins - it sounds like a firm of Welsh lawyers but they are the names of people who could be running Welsh rugby next season.

The Welsh Rugby Union board tonight hold one of its most important meetings since it came into existence. They have got to decide on a date for the extraordinary meeting of all the clubs - a meeting which could see the entire board voted out of office.

It should be called within three weeks of the required letter which went in with the necessary 10 signatures almost a week ago, though their legal advisers are saying it could be delayed.

Even though an EGM can't dismiss chief executive Steve Lewis, a paid employee (who won't be at tonight's meeting because he's in Dubai for the Junior World Cup), he could be dismissed at the next board meeting, by the old board or a new one, while chairman David Pickering could go, along with the board, or be replaced at the WRU AGM in September if he survives the EGM.

Gerald Davies has already been canvassed as next chairman of the current board, if it remains, while a surprise candidate to be chief executive if Lewis goes is Gareth Davies, the former Cardiff and Wales outside half who became Cardiff's chief executive before moving on to the Sports Council for Wales and the Post Office.

That deadline for applications for the Wales coaching vacancy is tomorrow, with Llanelli chief Gareth Jenkins the big favourite, though he has said he can't work with the present WRU leaders.

Former internationals at the Celtic Manor Resort yesterday for the launch of the Greatest Ever Welsh Rugby Club, an organisation which helps injured or ill players, all backed Jenkins.

"The clubs have got to be told what happened about Mike Ruddock. His successor should be Gareth Jenkins, who is the ideal candidate," said Newport chairman David Watkins.

"He has gone through all the traumas of professionalism with Llanelli and they have come out of it best."

JJ Wiiliams said: "It's got to be Gareth Jenkins, there's no-one else. He's been there and has had a hard time in the past, but we bent over backwards for Graham Henry and paid him a lot of money, so why not one of our own?"

Pickering held a brief media conference, saying "We understand there is a lot of support for Gareth, he's been with the Lions and has had great success with Llanelli.

"We've had over 20 applications and the system is being professionally monitored. We're happy with the quality, but we're not bandying names about, that's confidential."

And he hinted the closing date could be extended, as suggested in Monday's Argus.

"We set a deadline of April 7 but the interview process could continue after that to the satisfaction of the panel and the board. There is no fixed date," he said.