Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham has signed a long-term contract to stay on for the next Rugby World Cup in 2025 in England amid a major coup for Welsh rugby.
The former Scarlets forwards coach and Wales U20s boss, 39, was initially appointed on an interim basis ahead of the autumn 2021 internationals before being installed as the coach to lead Wales Women to October's World Cup, but his tenure has now been extended for another three years.
He has been credited with reinstalling belief in the morale-depleted Wales squad he inherited and transforming their environment in just six weeks last year.
The Welsh Rugby Union has also announced that the number of players on full-time professional contracts has more than doubled to boost preparations for this autumn's global showpiece tournament in New Zealand, which is being staged 12 months later than planned due to Covid.