McKenzie pulls out of race to be Aussie coach

SYDNEY - New South Wales Waratahs rugby coach Ewen McKenzie has withdrawn from the race for the vacant Wallabies coaching position.

His decision leaves former Queensland coach John Connolly as favourite to become the Australian coach.

McKenzie cited two reasons today for not contesting the Wallabies job, made available by the Australian Rugby Union after it sacked Eddie Jones last month.

"The best interests of my family and the fact that I've got unfinished business at NSW have led to this decision," McKenzie said in a statement.

"I notified the ARU via telephone yesterday that I would not be submitting an application at this time."

McKenzie, who guided the Waratahs to last year's Super 12 final, in which they were beaten by the Crusaders, said he still hoped to become Wallabies coach one day.

"It's a very big decision for me to make and one that I did not take lightly.

"But when the Wallabies joined the rest of our squad on the country tour last week I came to the realisation that I was part of something special and that I could become a much better coach by staying at NSW and finishing what I started two years ago."

NSW Rugby has extended McKenzie's contract by one year to 2008 to ensure that the reforms put in place by the former test prop are completed.

Prospective Wallabies coaches have until Friday to apply for the national job.

The three-man selection panel includes former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen, high performance general manager Peter Davis and former test flanker Simon Poidevin.

- NZPA