GARETH Jenkins is due to be interviewed on Wednesday for the job of Wales coach and a decision on Mike Ruddock's successor is expected at Thursday's WRU board meeting with an announcement that night or on Friday.

And there could well be a decision to appoint a group chief executive at the expense of a WRU chief which could put Steve Lewis' position in jeopardy.

Though rumours persist of a New Zealand interest in the Wales post - Robbie Deans and Warren Gatland have denied they want the job - the front runners remain Jenkins and Phil Davies.

Jenkins is the people's favourite after a decade of success in charge at Stradey Park while Davies' stock has fallen since Leeds were relegated after he took them from the English First Division to the Premiership.

There may still be resistance to Jenkins, who would want his own backroom staff with him for Wales, from the five-man panel set up to find the new coach.

But the WRU board have pre-empted any opposition from within by insisting that the final two candidates from the shortlist be presented to them, and they will then make the decision.

If the winner isn't Jenkins there could well be a public outcry and there could be even further trouble from club delegates at the EGM on May 14.

But the board could head some of it off if they decide to appoint a group chief executive which they haven't done since the departure of David Moffett and which the WRU constitution demands.

They would then do away with the post of WRU chief executive, a position held by Steve Lewis who, along with chairman David Pickering, is under fire, though he could, and probably would, apply for the post.

That group chief executive controversy, the Ruddock situation, the ticketing issue and the appointment of Millennium Stadium chief Paul Sargeant as a WRU board member will all be discussed at the EGM, but the only vote to be taken is one of no confidence in the board - and support for that is said to be waning.

The four regions will not be allowed to vote at the EGM though they can attend and speak, voting confined to the Union's 245 clubs.

- Chris Wyatt, the Llanelli Scarlets and former Wales lock from Newport, is believed to be joining Heineken Cup finalists Munster on a two-year deal.