WELSH rugby's gain is Newport Gwent Dragons' loss now that Gareth Davies has been appointed as chairman of the WRU, and his departure leaves a vital decision to be made at Rodney Parade.

The role as the region's chief executive has its challenges but should be an attractive one, certainly more enticing than it was a year ago.

The new man will profit from the end to the tedious saga over a fresh Rugby Services Agreement between the governing body and Regional Rugby Wales, they will benefit from an empowered and ambitious RRW that now has teeth and they will get to deal with Davies, who is already looking to improve the WRU's image.

But the former Wales and Lions fly-half made a very pertinent comment when talking to the BBC in the aftermath of his appointment about how

He said: "My sort of mantra is the executive should manage and perhaps the board should lead and I think, not wanting to sound critical, but perhaps people have felt generally there has perhaps been a lack of leadership amongst the board across Wales.

"I think the board itself has a very important role to play in basic elements such as communication and just keeping people informed and alerting them and the executive I think to the real issues facing the game."

The board should be giving the direction and the executive should be enforcing it.

That's something that must happen at Newport Gwent Dragons – they need to give Davies' replacement some clarity in terms of what they want.

The Dragons have drifted along for too many years and their next appointment should give an indication of the board's ambition, or lack of it.