Ruddock in Welsh rugby hot seat
Paul Gittings
LONDON, England -- Mike Ruddock will replace Steve Hansen as Wales coach at the end of this year's Six Nations championship, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) said on Thursday.
Hansen is returning home to New Zealand to work under former Wales coach Graham Henry as an assistant coach to the All Blacks.
Ruddock, 44, is a former Welsh B and Swansea flanker. He coached Swansea, Leinster and Ebbw Vale.
The WRU said Ruddock would take over from Hansen immediately after the tournament finishes this month and take Wales on a June tour of Argentina for two Tests.
Wales enjoyed a brief reprise of their 1970s glory days during last year's World Cup in Australia where they reached the quarter-finals and gave eventual winners England a severe test.
After beating Scotland in their opening Six Nations match, Wales have subsequently lost to Ireland and France.
Tindall back
World Cup-winning centre Mike Tindall, who has missed the first three games because of an ankle injury, was recalled Thursday to England's Six Nations training squad for next week's match against Wales
Full-back Iain Balshaw has also been named despite suffering a groin injury during club training on Wednesday.
World record prop Jason Leonard, who has announced his international retirement at the end of the championship, is also in the 28-man squad from which head coach Clive Woodward will pick his starting line-up on Monday.
Hooker Steve Thompson, who had a woeful game in last week's upset defeat to Ireland, keeps his place in the squad.
