RICHARD Whiffin has been appointed the new head coach of Wales under-20s, a role that has been vacant since Mark Jones left to coach the Ospreys in August.

Whiffin has previously held coaching roles with the Scarlets, Gloucester, London Irish, England under-20s, Wales women, and the Highlanders in New Zealand.

The 40-year-old will work closely with new Wales assistant coach Rob Howley to ensure there is alignment with the senior national side.

“To be able to work with a coach of Rob’s stature and be linked into the senior men’s set-up in the way that has been described presents a really exciting prospect not just for me but for the whole under-20s squad,” said Whiffin.

“The kind of alignment we are hoping to create will benefit everyone from the regional academies to the national squad but, most of all, the players themselves.

“It’s an ideal scenario for the under-20s and the rest of the pathway to be able to work in tandem with the senior squad and I’m really looking forward to getting started in the new role.”

Whiffin is a highly-rated attack coach and has a thorough knowledge of Welsh rugby at all levels. His latest job was interim head coach to the reigning champions of the WRU National Schools & Colleges League side, Cardiff & Vale College.

“In Richard Whiffin, we have a very talented young coach coming in to take charge of the under-20s,” said Howley.

“We have a great group of players identified already, so the future is looking really positive in Wales despite the obvious challenges of the current economic environment globally.”

Wales under-20s kick-off their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in February.