Tigers looking to Dai Young

A Welsh newspaper has added fuel to the rumours that Leicester Tigers could pinch Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young to replace Marcelo Loffreda at Welford Road.

A Welsh newspaper has added fuel to the rumours that Leicester Tigers could pinch Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young to replace Marcelo Loffreda at Welford Road.

Young and former Leicester centre and All Black Daryl Gibson are said to head the shortlist, according to the South Wales Echo.

The Cardiff Blues coach, a former Wales captain and British and Irish Lion and who is tipped to take on a role for the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa, is one of the most highly-respected coaches outside of Wales, although the Welsh public is still lukewarm to his work at the Blues.

Gibson, currently playing and mentoring at Glasgow, would represent a return to the Tigers' tradition of promoting coaching staff from within the side, as was so successfully done with Pat Howard.

“No decision has been made on a new appointment, but we expect to have a new rugby structure in place ready for the players' return to pre-season training,” said Tigers Chairman Peter Tom.

The Blues confirmed the appointments of two new coaches, Australia A backs coach Billy Millard and Wales Sevens coach Gareth Baber, last week.