CHAIRMAN Gareth Davies says the Welsh Rugby Union are putting more focus on developing a Welsh coach capable of leading the national side – but that it will still be the best man for the job that follows Wayne Pivac.

It was announced on Monday that the New Zealander will take over from his compatriot Warren Gatland after next year's World Cup in Japan.

Pivac's exploits with the Scarlets led to him topping a shortlist that also included Kiwis Dave Rennie and Chris Boyd. The leading Welsh candidate is Dai Young but he was committed to Wasps.

Meanwhile, the four regions will all be led by overseas coaches next season – Irishmen Bernard Jackman at the Dragons and Allen Clarke at the Ospreys, Pivac in Llanelli and Australia John Mulvihill at Cardiff Blues.

Gatland's 12-year reign was preceded by Gareth Jenkins, while he followed New Zealanders Graham Henry and Steven Hansen in the hotseat.

The WRU, with head of performance Geraint John a leading figure, have been looking to help in the development of homegrown coaches.

There will be a number of influential Welshmen at professional sides next season, including Ceri Jones at the Dragons, Jason Strange at Cardiff Blues and the highly-rated Stephen Jones at the Scarlets. The hope is that by the time Pivac heads for pastures new there will be home candidate.

"In an ideal world it would be great but I won't get hung up on it, if we haven't got a Welsh coach capable of doing it," said Davies.

"It's an area that we know we haven't put enough focus on over the past few years and we are trying to right that, but it won't happen overnight.

"Then it's a case of giving the talented prospective coaches the opportunity to develop, whether it's Stephen, Dwayne Peel (at Ulster).

"Everybody is speculating about Stephen leaving the Scarlets (for a job under Pivac), but it could be that he becomes head coach.

"Wayne will go through that process over the next 12 months and chat it through with Stephen. What Stephen needs to do is what is best for Stephen.

"It could be that he just wants to be a coach and be happy to come as an assistant, or it could be that he thinks 'hang-on, this is a career move for me to be head coach of the Scarlets'."

Pivac will take over at the start of a new World Cup cycle and Davies believes this summer's exploits, with wins against South Africa and Argentina (twice) despite resting a glut of stars, shows he will take over a side in rude health.

"At a board meeting last week there was very much a positive mood after the tour," said the former Wales fly-half.

"I said this doesn't happen by chance and go back to New Zealand in 2016 and the hammering we had at the Chiefs.

"Martyn (Phillips, chief executive) and Geraint led it with Warren and Rob (Howley, attack coach), an all-day meeting where it was said 'what the hell are we doing, guys? What is our plan?'.

"Players that night perhaps weren't up to it, so where was our plan, initially for 2019?

"Martyn is good at planning for various projects and scenarios. We kicked off the planning process that day and when we got back the guys got on with it, even down to the selection.

"International rugby is all about winning but there comes a time when you have to try and blood people.

"Perhaps we were a year late in doing that but what has come through has been over the last year or so where we have got two really strong sides now, probably more, whereas in 2016 we didn't have anywhere near that.

"People wonder what an earth you do on tour but it's up to you to maximise your time and access to people, which we did on that trip."