Filed under: Rugby Union, Premiership
How times have changed. Barely three years ago Dai Young was under pressure for his job with the Cardiff Blues amid growing discontent among the club's supporters.Now the Welsh region, who were rewarded with trophies after keeping faith with the former Wales and British Lions prop, have been left licking their wounds after failing in their bid to keep Young out of the clutches of London Wasps.
Young has signed a four-year deal as director of rugby with Wasps with the sole aim of reviving their flagging fortunes. And make no bones about it, Cardiff's loss is certainly Wasps' gain.
After nine years in the Welsh capital, Young won the Amlin Challenge Cup and EDF Energy Cup and reached the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.
He has fast-tracked a host of youth players, such as Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny, into not just the club or international side but also the British Lions.
But he feels he needs a fresh start. But what a task he faces at Wasps. There's no doubt the London side have underachieved in recent years and are in desperate need of some stability as Young readies himself for a big rebuilding job.
At least it is a position Young is familiar with. He was thrown into the Cardiff head coach's job during turblent times and he is back in the same situation at Adams Park.
Wasps may have history on their side, but there is much work ahead to restore former glories after the two-time Heineken Cup winners slumped to ninth place in the Aviva Premiership last term.
The rebuilding process has already begun, with no less than 11 players arriving at Wasps since the end of last season. But if there is one thing he needs from the club's hierarchy is what he had at Cardiff: time. Time to put his methods into practice and make sure the new men gel with the rest of the squad.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who led Wasps to unprecedented trophy-gathering success during a three-year stint, backed Young's decision to cross the Severn Bridge - adding he could take over the national side if he does well in the capital.
He told the Western Mail: "I think it is a good move for Dai. I don't want to get involved with the contractual stuff but just purely from a rugby point of view I think it will be a great experience for him.
"He's still a very young coach, people have got to realise that. He was thrown in at the deep end with Cardiff when he was still very young and he has learned a huge amount from his time at the region.
"This is a great opportunity for him to go and experience something somewhere else at Wasps."
Gatland added on the BBC: "I know one day he wants to coach Wales and have my job, and hopefully he's successful up there and he gets that opportunity."
Cardiff owner Peter Thomas, Young's biggest ally as he struggled at the start of his tenure, reluctantly gave the 43-year-old the go-ahead to leave his post.
Now after granting the Young his wish, he is considering taking legal action unless he receives £100,000 in compensation from Wasps.
That will go some way towards finding Young's replacement. Justin Burnell and Gareth Baber, who assisted Young, are expected to be in charge for the start of the season.
But while Cardiff search for their new man, Wasps have settled on theirs. And given time, just like he was afforded with his previous job, then it will no doubt prove a shrewd move.
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