The Ruddock Files

Thursday February 16 2006
The peculiar plots behind the Welsh coach's resignation

It's a little over 36 hours since WRU Chief Executive Steve Lewis ruined most of Britain's Rugby journalists' Valentine's dinners by announcing the departure of Mike Ruddock.

The man at the centre of all the fuss: Mike Ruddock

The dust, however, has not settled. It is not even falling to the floor. It is merely battling for airspace with the thick clumps of mud being slung by various parties at one another, as Welsh rugby once again falls apart like a mud hut in a rainstorm.

Conspiracy theorists in Wales have had a field day working out bizarre plot schemes, rumouring secret meetings, and spinning headlines and quotes.

Enjoy a brief recap of who has said what over the past couple of days...

THE RESIGNATION

"Being coach of Wales is more than a job and I had six days away last year in terms of holidays," he said.

"I have a gorgeous family with three great kids and the thought of going on to the World Cup, with even more time away and going to places like Australia on a summer tour, made me reflect and wonder whether I was prepared to give that commitment for another year and a half.

"There is a huge demand on the Welsh national coach every hour of every day of the week - not just in terms of preparing the team for matches but commenting on all the other factors from players writing books to people being in the news for other reasons to suspensions and injuries," Ruddock said.

"It's very high profile, very demanding. It's very enjoyable but it's something that the thought of another 18 months at that intensity was something I decided I did not want to do."

- Mike Ruddock on Tuesday evening

THE SHOCK

"It's stunning news.

"They say a week is a long time in politics but it is a very long time in Welsh rugby.

"I have known Welsh coaches come and go before but never in the middle of a Six Nations Championship.

"It's amazing this is happening 12 days before we take on Ireland in Dublin.

Its strange and its baffling that it is now."

- Former Wales captain Ieuan Evans

THE PLAUDITS

"I'd like to say that Mike's place in Welsh rugby history is assured." said WRU chairman David Pickering.

"He will go down as a fine ambassador, a wonderful coach and a fine gentleman - he brought great honour to himself, his family and his country."

- WRU Chairman David Pickering

"The team are devastated at Mike's decision.

"I respect him as a man and as a coach, he is a brilliant coach and a brilliant person.

I dont know anything about any meetings between senior players and the WRU. Mike played a vital part in the grand slam last year and we all now support him and his decision and wish him well in whatever he decides to do in the future.

- Gareth Thomas

"Mike Ruddock is a lovely human being and a great coach."

- Scott Johnson

SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT

"Something must have gone badly wrong behind the scenes for him to have stepped down.

"I can see him being the sort of person who wouldn't mess around if something wasn't to his liking - or things were going on - because the job obviously becomes untenable if things are not right behind the scenes."
 
- Clive Woodward

"There is more to this than meets the eye. And that's why I feel desperately sorry for Mike Ruddock.

"If it were down to family reasons, as it was with his predecessor Steve Hansen, Mike would have stayed on until the end of the season and drifted away with the blessing of all those around him.

"Sadly, there was obviously a necessity for him to go with immediate effect. And that will, no doubt, reflect badly on us around the rugby world."

- Rob Howley

"We are not quite sure of the reasons behind it.

Was anyone unhappy? Was he unhappy? Was the union unhappy about something that has happened?

We are not sure about the issues behind this and obviously there are issues behind this.

- Former Wales captain Ieuan Evans

If, as is widely assumed, Ruddock's demise was the result of a deteriorating relationship with his elite squad, there was more than a whiff of the weasel about some of the words spoken by the main protagonists.

- The Independent

DID HE JUMP OR WAS HE PUSHED?

But, against Ruddock's wishes, the WRU forced him to go at once with three games still to play.

He found out about the WRU's hard-line stance just moments before they called a hastily-arranged press conference for 9pm on Tuesday night to announce Ruddock was going. The news that the WRU refused to keep Ruddock until the end of the tournament will further enrage Welsh fans who are already angered that their Grand Slam-winning coach was permitted to leave.

Ruddock spoke to the Western Mail last night in an attempt to set the record straight - and to assure Welsh fans of his continuing desire to have masterminded Wales' battle plan to retain their Six Nations crown.

- The Western Mail

It emerged yesterday that Ruddock was dismissed by the WRU. He had agreed with the union on Tuesday morning not to seek a renewal of his contract when it ran out at the end of April, and that he would remain in charge of the team for the rest of the Six Nations campaign. But 10 minutes before a scheduled media conference that evening to announce his departure, Ruddock was called by a WRU official and told that he was no longer the Wales coach but that he would be paid up until the end of his contract.

- The Guardian

OR BOTH?

"I stressed to Michael and Gareth that I wanted to remain as coach of Wales until the end of the season. "It was never my intention to walk out on Wales before the end of the season.

"I explained to Michael and Alfie a request was made on Tuesday night by my employers, the Welsh Rugby Union, to stand down with immediate effect. I respected the wishes of the WRU and agreed to leave my post as head coach of Wales immediately."

- Mike Ruddock

THE ANONYMOUS LETTER...

We print a small part of the letter here. Certain parts are deleted, not because of expletives but for fairness or legal reasons.

The author says he is "friends" with a number of Welsh players and claims they have each said they were unhappy with Ruddock. It even states they "want him to be replaced" as coach.

The letter goes on, "He is due to re-sign his contract after the Six Nations, so obviously tentions (sic) are mounting."

The letter talks of players not being given enough rest and of getting bored with training routines. It states the players can't speak out publicly, for fear of losing their Wales places.

And it even talks of the prospect of players deciding to retire.

The letter goes on, "As it is getting closer to the time Mike has to re-sign his contract, the senior players are starting to talk about getting together and letting everyone know what the players think."

The letter also says the Welsh team ignored a management request not to go out after the England game at Twickenham. The letter follows claims of discontent in the Welsh camp which stretches back to last March, even during Wales' memorable march to the Grand Slam under Ruddock.

- The Western Mail

...WHICH FANNED THE FLAMES

Wales were well beaten at Twickenham, but more wounding for Ruddock was the spat between his players and the press in the run-up to the Scotland game. The squad, led by their captain Gareth Thomas, refused to attend a press conference or be interviewed until the journalist who ghosted Henson's book, My Grand Slam Year, has left the building.

In the book Henson criticised the ability and eligibility of some Wales internationals and the journalist had further inflamed Welsh feelings with an article in the Twickenham programme defending Henson's right to air his opinions. Ruddock remonstrated with his players, telling them to do the press conference. The players refused and sided with their captain.

Thomas later apologised for the stand-off. "It was a private disagreement that became public," the captain said. "In hindsight the stance we took was a mistake on our part. It was a breakdown in communication between parties." And Henson, right, would be welcome back to the Wales fold. "We don't have an issue with Gavin - categorically not at all," Thomas said.

- The Guardian

Why do they call Mike Ruddock the Bus? Because he'll never be a coach.

- Attributed to a senior Welsh squad member

THE DENIAL

"I understand there has been quite a bit of speculation about the supposed falling-out between myself, as head coach of Wales, and some of the players in the Welsh camp,"

"I've spoken to Gareth and Michael since the announcement that I was leaving was made and they have assured me that was not the case.

"I have assured them that I am fully supportive of their efforts in the forthcoming games and those of everyone else involved. I wish them every success. Once again, I want to wish the Welsh squad and everyone involved with Wales the very best of luck and success in their remaining Six Nations championship matches and in the future."

- Mike Ruddock, in the Western Mail

THE SECRET MEETING?

The Welsh Rugby Union's chief executive, Steve Lewis, has denied that a secret meeting between himself and five senior Welsh players led to the departure of the Wales coach, Mike Ruddock.

However, those words were nothing more than a smokescreen. The reality of the situation was that Lewis, on behalf of the WRU, opened talks with the coach at Tuesday lunchtime when it became clear that senior players were leading a move to oust Ruddock with immediate effect.

The upshot of their brief meeting at the WRU's training base in the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, was that Ruddock's position quickly became untenable. After that, the WRU agreed to endorse Ruddock's statement regarding his family as long as the coach relinquished his position there and then.

Last night, though, Lewis dismissed rumours suggesting that he met a small group of senior players last week to start the ball rolling. He also denied that players from within the squad contacted him by letter calling for Ruddock to stand down.

Lewis said: "As far as I'm concerned, there was no uneasiness in the camp with regard to Mike's coaching. I will also say that I have received no documentation from any player with regard to the coach and I have certainly not staged any meetings with the players."

- The Daily Telegraph

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

A memo sent to union communications chief Liz Jones advising her on how to handle the story stresses the need for the WRU to make the announcement on their own terms.

It warns that without appropriate action, the WRU would be accused by the public of "chaos and poor management".

The memo reveals the thinking behind the WRU's unprecedented decision to call a 9pm press conference on Tuesday evening. Normally, any media announcement takes place during the day.

Carelessly, the 14-point memo was left on a table after the Millennium Stadium press conference and was seen by rugby journalists.

The memo, drawn up just before 7pm, outlines the frantic need for the WRU to "be in control of the story" themselves. And it talks of how if the story "won't hold" then it should be given to the BBC and ITV.

But the memo warns the WRU they are facing a situation of Ruddock going, Johnson heading home to Australia while defence coach Clive Griffiths is without a contract.

"There is only one interpretation of those facts - chaos and poor management," warn the spin doctors.

The memo also questions why Ruddock, Lewis and WRU chairman David Pickering had consistently stated it was only a question of "dotting i's" and "crossing the t's" when it came to the coach's new contract.

- The Western Mail

PICKING UP THE PIECES

"It's a bit odd to be fair but we have got to be professional. I know I have got a job to do.

(On a question over a player rift) "It's all news to us. It's a surprise to us. We've got to get on with our job.

"At the end of the day, the person in charge has the final call," he said.

"If I feel someone deserves a clip across the ear, for right or for wrong, it is my job to do it. It will be run in my way, and it will be run in a way that is fair.

"It is not a job I coveted. It has landed on my lap for a three-game period, and I feel that it is appropriate for me to do it for that tenure and it is for others then to review it."

- New temporary coach Scott Johnson

"He (Ruddock) is a proud man but I have to respect his explanation that it was for "personal reasons". I think all we can do is wait to see what emerges over the next few weeks to see if it backs up the speculation. I don't think it will have much effect on Wales in their remaining Six Nations matches. I expect the players to react professionally and perform for the caretaker coach."

- Jonathan Davies

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD

"I've enjoyed my time in Wales. I have loved the people."

"But I've got some issues outside rugby. I've stated that for a long time and my situation hasn't changed.

"I've done the best to stay as long as have.

"There's been an issue at home since I've been here and that issue keeps raising it's head. "It's got nothing to do with rugby, it's got to do with family.

"I'm doing things at home and discussing some issues which I've continued to do and I will review that.

"But, at the end of the day, like Mike Ruddock, my decision will be made on family.

"Everything back home will take precedent over anything here.

- Scott Johnson

Phil Davies, the former Leeds director of rugby, has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next Wales coach.

Davies, who stepped aside at Headingley last October, has been working primarily as a forwards coach at the club in recent weeks.

However, as a 46-times capped former Wales international, Davies' desire to take on the top job in the land of his fathers is still burning brightly.

"The pinnacle of the profession is coaching international rugby," Davies said. "That is the top job for people in our industry. I've got a job at the moment but as a Welshman I've got to be interested in a job like the Welsh one."

- The Daily Telegraph

Mike Ruddock's bombshell decision to quit leaves his No 2, Scott Johnson, as clear favourite to become the next coach of Wales on a full-time basis.

Other contenders for the post will include the four coaches at the Welsh regions, plus the likes of Harlequins chief Mark Evans, ex-Wallabies coaches Eddie Jones and Rod MacQueen, Welsh exile Phil Davies at Leeds and former South African boss Nick Mallett.

There could even be a surprise swoop for someone like Sir Clive Woodward. He is with Southampton FC these days, but the WRU may want to test the water and see if Woodward would be interested in a return to rugby union.

- The Western Mail

WHAT NOW FOR RUDDOCK?

Mike Ruddock could be on his way to Guinness Premiership giants Saracens...

- South Wales Echo

AND FOR WALES?

The whispers of "player power", of "blazer power", of petty contract bickerings, of snake-eyed executives wielding Machiavellian axes, of would-be replacements operating shamelessly in the shadows, have only fed the paranoia that the bad days are here again.

- The Independent