Rugby: Waikato lose their coach to Wasps

The Waikato Rugby Union won't comment on speculation coach Tony Hanks will be unveiled as Wasps' new director of rugby later this week.

English newspapers, however, have reported that Hanks will replace Lions coach Ian McGeechan at the powerhouse greater London club.

A message on Hanks' phone said he was in the United Kingdon and a union spokesperson was unable to confirm that he would remain in his Waikato post this season.

Hanks has twice spent time at the club, as an assistant to former coach Warren Gatland and most recently as part of a four-month loan spell when McGeechan was given time off to prepare for the Lions tour.

That arrangement was billed as a win-win by Waikato, who claimed Hanks would gain valuable experience to bring back to the union. The reality now seems to be a straight-out win for Wasps, with the Guardian newspaper reporting that Hanks will run the club's rugby operations and oversee current coach Sean Edwards.

In his first season in charge last year, Waikato won just four of 10 round robin matches and were bundled out in the quarter-finals by Hawkes Bay.