Wasps' Dai Young harbours Wales coaching ambition

Dai Young made his debut for Wales as a 19-year-old in the 1987 World Cup.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young says he would like to coach Wales.

The 47-year-old, who made 51 appearances for Wales as a player, has just signed a contract extension with the Premiership club until 2019.

Warren Gatland's contract as Wales coach also ends in 2019, and Young admits he harbours ambitions in the international game.

"It would be ideal ... if it was Wales, but at some stage I would like to coach internationally," he said.

"Of course you want to achieve things as a coach as you do as a player and your ambition is to do really well at club level.

"And hopefully I can do that and then at some stage I can get the opportunity to coach internationally - that doesn't necessarily have to be Wales."

Young played international rugby union and rugby league for Wales, and played three Test matches for the British and Irish Lions.

He retired as a player in 2001 and was appointed coach of the Blues two years later.

Under his guidance the Cardiff-based region reached the semi-final of the Heineken Cup in 2009 - losing in a penalty shoot-out to Leicester.

At Wasps, Young has overseen an improvement in form, culminating in his contract extension.

However, Young said the timing of his contract and that of Gatland's was coincidence.

"This contract has had no bearing on my thoughts there - I just feel that another four years would take us [Wasps] to a period of hopefully some success."

Young left Cardiff Blues to join Wasps in June 2011 and led them to seventh in the league last season.

They also earned qualification for this season's European Champions Cup after beating Stade Francais in a two-legged play-off in May.

Young, whose initial four-year deal was due to expire in the summer, signed an extension on Thursday.