London Wasps hope to appoint Dai Young as boss

Young is set to arrive at Adams Park after nine years with Cardiff Blues

Wasps are aiming to name Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young as their new director of rugby, BBC Sport understands.

The 43-year-old will need to negotiate a release from his Blues contract, where he has spent the last nine years.

But Blues chairman Peter Thomas has told BBC Wales Sport: "There has been no approach from Wasps whatsoever."

If appointed Young would join up with Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards and former Cardiff fly-half Nicky Robinson, who joins Wasps this summer.

BBC Radio 5 live's Alastair Eykyn said: "The process has been tortuous but Wasps have finally settled on Young.

"Dean Ryan, Alex King, Paul Turner, Neil Back and Phil Greening were all considered at one stage or another.

"But Young will agree terms to take charge of his first Premiership club.

"He has ambitions of coaching Wales and believes he needs experience of coaching a Premiership side to do that."

But Thomas has insisted no formal approach has been made for their director of rugby: "There would need to be an approach because Dai has one year left on his contract.

"We have also had no approach from Dai to speak to Wasps.

"I have always said that I think Dai's next port of call after the Cardiff Blues should be with the Wales national set up."

The former Wales and British & Irish Lions prop led Blues to a Heineken Cup semi-final in 2009, where they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Leicester.

He also guided the region to Anglo-Welsh Cup success in 2009 and became the first director of rugby to bring European silverware to a Welsh region by winning last year's Amlin Challenge Cup by beating Toulon 28-21.

Earlier this month he was in charge of the Barbarians for victories over an England XV and Wales.

Wasps have been without a full-time director of rugby since Tony Hanks' departure in February.

Leon Holden took charge at Adams Park on an interim basis for the latter part of last season.