Wiltshire’s aim will be to deliver a constant flow of talent capable of challenging for selection at the highest levels of rugby in Wales.

The new role of national performance manager is the first appointment in the structure considered earlier this month by the Welsh Rugby Union as part of an ongoing review of the elite rugby team.

Wiltshire will oversee all the elite performance delivery needs of Welsh rugby outside the national squad. He will report directly to the head of rugby development while also liaising closely with Gatland and his elite performance staff to align strategies.

A review is continuing into the structure of elite performance management within the national squad and the search for a new head of rugby development to replace Nigel Davies has already attracted a number of high calibre applications.