Welsh Rugby Union secretary Dennis Gethin is leaving his post sooner than expected.

Gethin recently announced he would be stepping down in May next year.

But an agreement has been reached with WRU chief executive David Moffet to allow Gethin to leave at the end of December.

Said Gethin: "I approached David to offer him the chance to clear his decks a little earlier to enable his new appointment to move straight into position.

"He has now agreed to my proposition and, as a result, I will be leaving my post on December 31, 2002.

"As I have stated in the past, much of my time has been spent fire-fighting at times of crisis.

"The game, however, remains very dear to me and I will continue to be totally committed to the cause of Welsh rugby."

Gethin decided not to apply for new posts recently advertised by the WRU.

Rugby's governing body in Wales is looking to appoint a chief executive of Millennium Stadium plc and a group commercial marketing director to work alongside Moffet.

Gethin became WRU secretary in March, 1998.

WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths said: "Dennis was the perfect man for the Welsh Rugby Union at a very difficult period in the history of the game in Wales."