01/04/2008 09:05

Sydney - Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie's contract will not be renewed beyond this year's Super 14 season, the state's rugby chiefs announced on Tuesday.

McKenzie's five years at the helm will end in July even if the Waratahs win their first title in the southern hemisphere provincial competition, New South Wales Rugby Union chief executive Jim L'Estrange said.

"Ewen's situation does not change for the rest of the Super 14 season, we still have a competition to win and we are right in the mix," he said.

"Put simply Ewen has had five great years with the Waratahs and this decision allows both Ewen and NSW Rugby to move forward from a strong foundation."

Assistant coach Todd Louden, who helped guide the South Africa-based Bulls to the championship last year, is tipped to take McKenzie's job, although the Blues' coach David Nucifora is also reportedly in the running.

McKenzie, a former World Cup-winning prop, has been under pressure since the Waratahs finished 13th last year.

This year the Waratahs have won four of their six matches and are ranked eighth, but have been criticised for lacking enterprise in attack.

"Jim and I have been talking for some time about the future and we had a really good meeting on Monday and I'm satisfied that we can both now move ahead," McKenzie said.

"We told the team before training on Monday, then went right on with the job preparing (for the Blues on Saturday night).

"In an ideal world, you'd like to go on and on but this is professional sport and I've been in the job longer than anyone else so I've had a good innings."

Three years ago McKenzie steered the Waratahs to the final, which they lost to the Crusaders, and then to the semi-finals the following season.