Wales coach Cunningham quits after turbulent 2024
Ioan Cunningham has resigned from his role as Wales women head coach after a turbulent year on and off the pitch.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed Cunningham left by mutual agreement after three years at the helm.
Wales registered only four wins in 11 Tests in 2024, while the governing body has admitted serious failings in the way it handled players' contract negotiations over the summer.
The WRU has thanked Cunningham but said the process to appoint a new head coach will begin "in earnest".
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: "Ioan has been in charge for the transition of the team from amateur to professional status and led the side to a first ever win over Australia after seeing them finish third in Six Nations and reach WXV1 in 2023."
Cunningham, who was involved in those player contract talks, led Wales to their best finish in the Six Nations for 13 years and a World Cup quarter-final before this year's dramatic slump.
In a statement, he said he was proud of his achievements and believes the team has made "significant progress".
But he added: "The time is now right for someone new to take the helm and I wish the new regime and everyone involved in this elite programme all the very best for the future."
Tierney said the WRU continues to "separately address" issues raised by a recent review into the contract row with players.
"We are in the early stages of professionalism in the senior women’s game, there are challenges which we are addressing with determination and vigour, but our dedication to this integral part of our game is unwavering," she said.
"The women’s and girls’ game remains a priority for Welsh rugby and is a key part of our new strategy for the game in Wales."
Cunningham, 41, has been in the role since 2021 and was contracted to lead Wales at next year's World Cup in England.
But, just as with the men's national team in 2022, Wales have lost a head coach less than 12 months before the tournament starts.
The position of WRU executive director of rugby Nigel Walker, who was involved in the contract discussions, remains unclear.
There is a degree of irony about the circumstances of Cunningham's departure given he was appointed after a scathing internal review into the women’s game, Rowland Phillips’ unexplained departure and the disastrous appointment of Warren Abrahams who lasted only four months.
A former Scarlets forward, Cunningham immediately galvanised the squad and oversaw the first professional contracts for female players in Wales.
In his first season, he guided Wales to their best showing in the Six Nations since 2009 before repeating that feat a year later at the peak of his tenure.
Wales rose to an all-time high world ranking of sixth and secured their place in the top tier of a new global tournament, WXV1.
But 2024 has seen a dramatic downturn as Wales finished last in the Six Nations and despite winning a friendly against Australia, they managed just one victory at WXV2 this summer and are down to 10th in the world rankings.
That was despite new contracts for 37 Wales players that was heralded by the WRU as among the most lucrative in the world game.
But it has since players had threatened to strike ahead of September's friendly against Scotland as talks broke down.
In response, the WRU sent an email to players, seen by the BBC, giving a three-hour deadline to sign or be withdrawn from WXV2 and, subsequently, next year’s World Cup.
WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood said the situation had likely been a major factor in results on the field.
The WRU board met on Tuesday to further consider a review into those contract negotiations and said it is committed to implementing its findings, which are to be published later this month.
Collier-Keywood added: "Whilst it has not been easy to hear, nor easy for the players to say, the fact that they have come forward to talk about longstanding issues indicates that much needed change is underway."
