MEET THE MAN WHO COULD BE WALES COACH... DAVE RENNIE

HE is the man being tipped to become the next New Zealander to take charge of the Wales national team.

The Welsh Rugby Union are expected to announce Warren Gatland’s successor next year with the leading three candidates understood to be Glasgow’s Dave Rennie, Chris Boyd of the Hurricanes Super Rugby side and Scarlets’ head coach Wayne Pivac.

It is Rennie, though, who is the current favourite to take over when Gatland brings his tenure to an end following the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Here we profile the highly-rated Kiwi currently making waves north of the border... What’s his background? A former centre with Wellington, Rennie hung up his playing boots at the age of 27 and has since enjoyed a trophy-laden coaching career in New Zealand.

He guided Wellington to their first provincial title in 14 years – when a certain Jonah Lomu scored two tries in the final; coached New Zealand Under-20s to three Junior World Championships and then transformed the fortunes of the Chiefs in Super Rugby after years of underachievement.

In his first season in charge, aided by the All Blacks’ current assistant Wayne Smith, he moulded a squad that included the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden into a potent attacking outfit that stormed to the title and followed it up by defending the crown in 2013.

In all, during the six seasons Rennie was at the helm, the Chiefs were an ever-present in the play-offs and if Welsh fans needed any further evidence of his quality, they can watch highlights of the 40-7 thumping of Gatland’s Wales midweek tourists in 2016, when the home side were missing a host of international regulars.

In August last year it was announced that Rennie would be joining Guinness PRO14 side Glasgow on a two-year deal, replacing Gregor Townsend, who was taking the reins of the Scotland national side from another Kiwi, Vern Cotter.

Rennie has quoted former New Zealand captain Graham Mourie, who was head coach of Wellington during his early years at the province, as a major influence on his career. Why Glasgow? The former schoolteacher has made no secret of his desire to coach the All Blacks, but with Steve Hansen firmly ensconced in the New Zealand hot seat until at least the 2019 World Cup, Rennie has opted to tread a familiar coaching path in the northern hemisphere.

It is one that has been followed by Hansen himself and Graham Henry before him, both former Wales coaches, of course. Asked in a recent interview why he had opted for Glasgow, Rennie said: “Gregor spent a little bit of time with the Chiefs in 2012 and I got to know him pretty well.

“I have taken a keen interest in Glasgow ever since. When I had a look at the opportunity here, good people,