London Wasps have confirmed the appointment of Dai Young as the club's new director of rugby.

Young joins on a four-year deal from the Cardiff Blues where he has been at the helm since 2002, first as head coach and then as director of rugby. He takes the reigns at the beginning of July of a new-look London Wasps side which will welcome more than 10 new senior squad players next season.

Bringing with him a strong pedigree of top level club experience from the Welsh based Blues, whom he has guided to Heineken Cup quarter and semifinals, Young also brings wealth of knowledge of the demands needed to become a top player. The ex-international prop, won 51 caps for his country as well as travelling on three British and Irish Lions tours.

Young also has experience coaching in international rugby as he has led the Barbarians as head coach for the past four years on their European touring schedule.

London Wasps chief executive Chris Thomas said: 'We are delighted to welcome Dai to London Wasps and we believe he is exactly the right person to take the club forward. Dai brings a wealth of experience to the club and this is an appointment for the long-term.

We remain an ambitious club and want to be competing at the highest level. Dai is the person to help us achieve these ambitions. Dai has done a sterling job in Cardiff, developing a host of young talent into international quality players as well as building an excellent team with strong spirit. We were hugely impressed with his vision for London Wasps which is in keeping with our key objective of developing sustained long-term success."

With the club having added a number of new faces to the squad for next season including England hooker Steve Thompson, flyhalf Nicky Robinson and former All Black Ross Filipo, Thomas added that Young would have a strong group of players to worth with.

"We have worked very hard in recent months to put together a squad for next season which will give us far more balance and Dai will lead a squad which combines some hugely exciting young talent as well as some hard-nosed top level experience."

Young said "This is an enormous opportunity for me. I have loved my time with Cardiff but I am looking forward to a new experience in a new environment.

"There is a hugely talented group of players here to work with and the challenge to help get a great club into a position where they are once again challenging for success was too good to turn down."