TWO men will battle it out for the position of Welsh Rugby Union president to succeed Sir Tasker Watkins, who has decided to stand down.

The Argus on Friday broke the story of Sir Tasker's decision to finish at the annual meeting on September 26 after a near unprecedented time as president.

We also revealed on Saturday that the leading candidates to succeed him were Keith Rowlands and David East.

And when nominations closed after first post yesterday, it was Rowlands and East who were the only two candidates.

There was support from a number of clubs for Glanmor Griffiths to stand, but he ruled himself out after serving for 18 years as WRU chairman and being involved in every part of the WRU decision making process during that time.

Most notable among those was the demolition of the old Cardiff Arms Park and replace it with the Millennium Stadium.

There was also widespread support among the general public for Gerald Davies, the former Wales, Cardiff and British Lions wing to stand for the presidency. But he also declined.

Davies, who has been with the Sports Council for Wales, the Wales Tourist Board and HTV, has been mentioned as a possibility for the Newport Gwent Dragons board since WRU pair Steve Lewis and David Pickering stood down, but it is by no means certain that will happen.

Rowlands will be the big favourite to succeed Sir Tasker after a long career in Welsh rugby.

He was a Cardiff, London Welsh, Army, Llanelli, Barbarians, Wales and British Lions lock and went on to be coach and chairman of Cardiff.

He was a WRU committee member for 14 years as well as being a national team selector and International Board representative.

When he finished with the WRU he moved to the International Board and became their first chief executive in 1988, a post he held for eight years. He was also involved in the organisation of the1999 World Cup in Wales.

East is a former South Wales Police chief who became secretary of the WRU in the 1990s, but he resigned after only six months in protest at Welsh involvement in an Invitation team's tour to South Africa.

A postal ballot will now be held and the winner announced at the annual meeting when Sir Tasker Watkins officially stands down.