Maw was only brought into the job at the start of January

The Welsh Rugby Union has decided to dispense with the services of elite performance director Graeme Maw.

Former British Triathlon and Queensland Academy of Sport boss Maw will leave at the end of June, just six months after taking up the newly created EPD role.

The move follows the appointment of Craig White as conditioning coach.

The role of head of rugby development currently held by Nigel Davies will be elevated to a board position, with further changes likely to be made.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the WRU confirmed Maw's imminent departure, thanked him for his work and wished him well for the future.

WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis added: "In the professional era the rugby world is constantly evolving and so we must embrace change.

"To build upon the success we have so far achieved means that difficult decisions have to be taken and have to be taken quickly.

606: DEBATE Does anyone in the WRU have any idea of what is required for the future of the game? bedfordwelsh

The 43-year-old immediately set about conducting a review into the state of rugby in Wales, but according to the WRU it is as a result of this process that he will step down from the role.

Maw was on the executive board of the WRU, reporting directly to group chief executive Lewis.

At the time of his appointment, Lewis named Maw as one of the Union's key triumvirate, along with coach Warren Gatland and Nigel Davies.

Davies was unveiled as head of rugby development at the same time as Maw was appointed, but Davies could also be on his way out of the Union, having been strongly linked with the coaching vacancy at Llanelli Scarlets.

The WRU launched its global search for an EPD in March last year and struggled to fill the post.

Its aim is to ensure the maximum number of players achieve their potential and build competition for Wales places.

Graeme Maw boasts a strong background in sports science

That was after former Wales coach Kevin Bowring decided against a move from an elite coaching position with England.

Davies had been strongly linked with the job after impressing the WRU with his handling of the national side in the one-off Test against South Africa last November.

But the Union opted to split the role in two, with Davies taking on a job that oversaw every aspect of player, coach and match-official involvement in rugby from grass roots through to the elite game.

Former Leicester and Lions fitness coach White had also been linked with the EPD job in Wales, and he was recruited by the Union earlier this week to bolster elite players' conditioning.