Gareth Davies will be working for the Welsh Assembly Government

Former Wales and Lions Gareth Davies, 50, has turned his back on Welsh rugby's top job in favour of promoting Welsh business in Australia.

The WRU said in May it would search for a new leader, but no appointment will be made until late September.

"The process is so long. The world doesn't stop for the WRU," said Davies.

"They took almost three months to advertise the job, never mind actually appointing someone.

The biggest challenge will be to improve communication within the WRU Gareth Davies on the cheif executive post

"So I thought the process was very slow. The opportunity then came to work in Australia so I had to make a decision."

The WRU have appointed headhunting firm Odgers Ray & Berndtson to find a successor for David Moffett, who resigned in December last year.

Having originally claimed the role had become redundant, pressure from their member clubs forced the WRU to rethink.

Davies, whose administrative experience includes working for Cardiff RFC, BBC Wales Sport and the Sports Council for Wales, had emerged as the hot favourite to take the post.

He said "most people in Wales would fancy their arm at running Welsh rugby" despite acknowledging the job would be a stern test for anyone.

"The biggest challenge will be to improve communication within the WRU," Davies told BBC Wales Sport.

"Communication within the Union, through the press, with its commercial partners and clubs have not been the best.

"A lot of other areas have been solved to some extent - the finances are better than a few years ago, although there is still a some way to go of course.

"The systems need to be in place fro Welsh rugby to go from strength to strength because the success of the national team and the future of rugby is vitally important to the business side.