Leicester Tigers boss Michael Cheika has been installed as the early bookies' favourite to succeed Warren Gatland as permanent Wales head coach.

Cheika is poised to leave Welford Road when his contract runs out at the end of the season, having only joined the Premiership outfit last summer.

WalesOnline understands WRU bosses have already held tentative talks with the former Wallabies boss as they look for a long-term replacement for Gatland, whose departure was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

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However, it's believed interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby and Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith are the two preferred candidates at this stage. You can read full details on that story here.

Saturday's reverse at the hands of Italy in Rome, the latest in a disastrous run of 14 straight Test defeats, appears to have been the final straw for WRU chiefs, who will now start looking for a new head coach.

Cardiff's Matt Sherratt has already been handed reins until the end of the current Six Nations campaign, but it seems likely the WRU will look elsewhere for a more long-term replacement.

According to DragonBet, Cheika (3/1) is the most likely candidate at this stage, although it's understood Simon Easterby and Franco Smith are the two front-runners at this stage, both of whom are priced at 5/1.

Former Scarlets and All Blacks coach Brad Mooar is priced at 4/1, while Steve Tandy (6/1), Stuart Lancaster (7/1) and Jonathan Humphreys (9/1) are all tipped to potentially be in the frame.

Odds in full:

Michael Cheika 3/1

Brad Mooar 4/1

Franco Smith 5/1

Simon Easterby 5/1

Steve Tandy 6/1

Stuart Lancaster 7/1

Jonathan Humphreys 9/1

Joe Schmidt 10/1

Vern Cotter 10/1

Graham Rowntree 12/1

Ronan O'Gara 12/1

Shaun Edwards 12/1

Toby Booth 12/1

Frans Ludeke 14/1

Matt Sherratt 14/1

(Odds courtesy of DragonBet and correct at time of publishing. Please gamble responsibly)

You can follow live updates and this afternoon's scheduled Wales press conference here.