WRU chief 'embarrassed' by Boks battering but insists: 'I'm still right man for the job'

WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood says he was “embarrassed” by Wales’ 73-0 hammering at home to South Africa - the heaviest in their history - but maintains he is still the right man to lead the sport's future in Wales.

- STEFFAN THOMAS Rugby Correspondent [e-mail]

Saturday's defeat to the world champions was a record home defeat and arguably Welsh rugby's lowest point of the professional era.

It emphasised how far away Welsh rugby is from competing with the best sides in the world and Collier-Keywood said he found it hard to watch.

“I felt very, very disappointed and very upset,” he said.

“It was very hard to take. Yeah, I was embarrassed.

“I think any Welsh person sitting there would have been embarrassed to be honest with you. It was pretty hard to watch, wasn’t it.

“I was concerned about the boys out on the field. There was clearly a massive mismatch.

“It shows us how far we've got to go. I think it was as bad as my worst expectations were.

“Inevitably you go into games and you think about a range of potential outcomes. That was probably at the worst end.”

When asked if he would consider his position given the lowly state of Welsh rugby Collier-Keywood insists he is the right man for the job.

“Yes I am,” he said when asked if he is the correct individual to take things forward.

“I mean it’s obviously subject to the board and the clubs agreeing with that but yes.

“I think we've changed the finances around, it’s sustainable. We've announced an investment of £40 million into rugby in Wales in the next five years, which just would not have been possible apart from the professionalisation of everything we've done there.

“And I think we're working on the professional side.

“We are halfway through a process of trying to land that in the next literally few weeks, I hope.

“And if we do manage that, then I think we've got the main things behind us.

“So yeah, I’m very confident that we'll get there and I’m looking forward to the next challenge”