Western Mail's top 10 replacements for Dai Young

Justin Burnell
The 43-year-old ex-Pontypridd and Bridgend flanker is Young’s right-hand man at the Blues and favourite for the top job if there’s to be an internal promotion.
Began his coaching career with his home town club of Llantwit Fardre, going on to take the helm at Ponty.
Guided Wales U-19s to the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2006 and was appointed head coach of Cardiff later that year, while also serving as Academy manager ahead of becoming Blues forwards coach in 2008.

Rob Howley
Former Lions scrum-half Howley spent three years with the Blues as backs coach ahead of moving on to work as an assistant to Warren Gatland with Wales in 2008.
As a player, he had two spells with Cardiff and won 59 caps for his country, 22 as captain, while also scoring the try that brought Wasps the Heineken Cup in 2004.
He was part of the Lions coaching team in South Africa two years ago, but, at the age of 40, he is yet to take on a head coaching role.

Kingsley Jones
Much travelled both as a player and a coach, Jones is currently on his furthest-flung assignment, as coach of Russia.

He parted company with Sale in January after seven years at the club, during which time he had been forwards coach, head coach and director of rugby, winning the Premiership title in 2006.
Cut his coaching teeth at Doncaster after a back-row playing career that took in spells at Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd, Worcester and Gloucester and brought 10 Welsh caps.

Phil Davies
Has just gained promotion to the Aviva Premiership with Worcester, who he joined last summer as forwards coach.
Has had previous coaching spells with Leeds - where he spent a decade - the Scarlets, Wales U20s and Cardiff, helping the Blue & Blacks win the Premiership title in 2009.
Now 46, he earned exactly that number of caps in the back five of the scrum.
Applied for the Wales coaching job in 2006, but lost out to his former Llanelli boss Gareth Jenkins.

Mike Rayer
Born and bred in Cardiff, this Llandaff North product was a hugely popular player during two spells as a side-stepping full-back with the Blue & Blacks. Won 21 caps for Wales, scoring two tries as a replacement against Scotland in the 1994 Five Nations.
Has spent the past six years as director of rugby of Bedford, who reached the final of the British & Irish Cup last season and finished second in the Championship, losing in the last minute of the play-off semi-final to Worcester.

Graham Henry
This may be a bit left-field, but the former Wales boss will have time on his hands after the World Cup, as he’s set to step down as coach of New Zealand following the tournament, ideally after securing that elusive Webb Ellis trophy.
He’s no spring chicken at 65, but he still has a razor-sharp mind and knows the game like virtually no-one else alive. He also has a good relationship with Blues chairman Peter Thomas and a strong affection for Welsh rugby and Wales. Stranger things have happened.

Dale McIntosh
Is it time for the Chief to become the boss? McIntosh, 41, has certainly had a year to remember, having guided Pontypridd to WRU Cup glory and top spot in the Premiership at the end of the regular season.
The Kiwi-born Welsh international has extensive coaching experience at age-grade level, having worked as a development officer for both the Blues and the WRU. He's now doing the business at senior level with Ponty, where he is a real cult hero having played for the club for close on two decades.

Xavier Rush
It would be a huge ask for Rush to step straight into such a high-profile coaching role with no experience under his belt. But Young started out as player-coach and has remained at the helm for nine years.
Former New Zealand back-rower Rush would certainly command respect. He's a real warrior who lays his body on the line week-in, week-out and has made a huge contribution to the Blues since arriving in Cardiff in 2005. A natural leader who will turn 34 next month.

Lyn Jones
Has recently returned to British rugby, as coach of London Welsh, having spent two years working out in Abu Dhabi.
Knows the Welsh regional scene inside out, having been head coach of the Ospreys for five years, while also having had a short spell with the Dragons.

Having stepped up from his role in charge of Neath, former flanker Jones guided the Ospreys to silverware in both the Celtic League and EDF Trophy. Has made it clear that he would like to be Warren Gatland's successor as Wales coach.

Mike Ruddock
Has been coaching for more than 20 years, having started out with Swansea in his early 30s after being forced to retire from playing early because of an accident at work.
Spells with Leinster, Ebbw Vale, Wales A and the Dragons followed ahead of his shock appointment as Wales coach ahead of Gareth Jenkins in 2004.
Guided Wales to the Grand Slam the following year, but left the post amid much acrimony in 2006 and didn't enjoy the most successful time with Worcester. Now 51, he is coaching Ireland's U-20 team.

cardiffstu wrote:I like what Rayer has done