GRAEME Maw, Welsh rugby's latest chief, promises to use all the elite expertise available to help Newport Gwent Dragons, who are the least supported region on and off the field.

The 43-year-old from Bristol was yesterday unveiled as the new name in Welsh rugby, the first elite performance director to bring an end to an eight-month search for someone to fill the role.

He was formerly performance director for the British Triathlon Association were he helped the sport secure 28 world, European and Commonwealth medals in six seasons and before that was high performance manager for the Queensland Academy of Sport, working with Olympic swimmers like Grant Hackett and helping 13 swimmers from nine coaches selected for the 2000 Olympics, winning 19 medals.

Now he turns his attention to rugby and WRU chief executive Roger Lewis describes the triumvirate of Maw, new coach Warren Gatland and head of rugby development Nigel Davies as "a powerhouse of world rugby and the right men in the right jobs at the right time".

And Maw pledged about the Dragons, trailing as fourth Welsh team again: "The national body can deliver within the elite performance structure and the Dragons will have technical support services and work with the coaches and technical staff, sharing the best practices.

"We are going to make a difference. Immediately we will work on the academies where funding is up for review and there is talk of a national centre of excellence."

Davies added, "We can't afford any region to fail, no team should be the underdog, almost accepting failure. We are speaking to all rugby continually, let's look at player movement or a loan system maybe."

But Lewis presented a brighter picture about the Dragons. "We are in regular contact with them, they are moving forward, they are building a new stadium and we should recognise that," he said. "They are grasping the nettle and they've got a relationship with Newport city council as well as nurturing young talent.

"It's tough in Wales and there is no magic formula. Wales is economically challenged and the WRU have got a £43m turnover compared with the RFU's £104m. If we continue to tear ourselves apart we won't move forward.

"In Newport it's tough, but it's tough in Llanelli as well and look at what they're achieving so let's get behind the Dragons.

"The more successful the regions are the more successful Wales will be. We have got to be more confident and bullish in Wales, tribalism is still there, which is not good, instead of working together. We have got to address that and move forward."

Maw indicated the new trio at the top would produce a firm plan by the end of March after consulting all the stakeholders.

"It's about developing a winning attitude and culture and it's about behaviour because big decisions have got to be made."