Mallinder set for Welsh move

According to a report from Wales Online, Jim Mallinder is set the become the new head coach of Cardiff Blues.

The former Northampton Saints director of rugby has been out of work since he was sacked from his role at Franklin’s Gardens in December and he has reportedly been tagged as the man to succeed Danny Wilson, who leaves the region at the end of the season for a role as forwards coach at Wasps.

Mallinder enjoyed plenty of success at Northampton during his 10-year tenure, helping guide the club back to the Aviva Premiership, before going on to win the competition in 2014, as well as lifting two European Challenge Cup titles and one Anglo-Welsh Cup.

After finishing 8^th in their first season back in the Premiership, Mallinder guided Northampton to six-straight seasons in the top four of the competition, but 5^th and 7^th place finishes in the last two seasons, as well as a poor start to the 2017/18 campaign, were enough to prompt Saints into a change.

The Blues are facing troubles of their own, sitting in fourth and eight points behind the Cheetahs in Conference A, with the Welsh region facing an uphill battle to make it into the expanded Guinness PRO14 playoffs this season. This comes on the back of several disappointing seasons in the competition, with the 2010/11 season the last time the region finished in the top half of the table.

Mallinder did a very good job of rebuilding Northampton following their relegation and putting together a squad that could challenge for domestic and European honours and the Blues will be hoping he can replicate that if they do indeed bring him in to replace Wilson next season.