By Paul Jones

Dai Young has expressed his aim of ensuring Cardiff Blues compete at the “business end” of the season after agreeing to stay on as permanent director of rugby.

The former Wasps coach has signed on for the long-term after notching four wins in seven games in his period as the interim director of rugby.

Having played for the club earlier in his career, and then spent nine years as head coach, he returned earlier in the year when John Mulvihill moved on. He has put pen to paper on what the Blues are calling “a long-term contract”.

“We want to compete at the business end of the season in all of the competitions we play in and while it will take time, I am confident we now have a clear, long-term plan in place,” said Young.

“The interim period allowed both parties to have a good look at each other and allowed me to satisfy my mind that this is the right decision and that I can make the impact here that I’d like.

 

ICYMI

“I am confident that this squad, which has so much potential, wants to improve and is willing to put in the necessary work, while the facilities required to underpin our goals and objectives have now been agreed and are progressing. https://t.co/WehV0jf837 pic.twitter.com/lzFRvWdYjH

— Cardiff Blues (@Cardiff_Rugby) April 14, 2021

“I’m confident this squad, which has so much potential, wants to improve and is willing to put in the necessary work. The facilities required to underpin our goals and objectives have now been agreed and are progressing.

“There is still a long way to go, as we saw against London Irish, but I’m confident there is a lot of improvement and development to come.

“They are a hard-working and honest group of players, with a lot of young and exciting talent.”

It now seems certain that the Ulster backs coach, the former Wales and British & Irish Lions scrum half Dwayne Peel, won’t be heading to the Arms Park despite having signed a contract.

Wheels are in motion for him to go back to his old stamping ground in Llanelli to take over at the Scarlets.