Graham Henry's reign as Wales coach has come to an end by mutual consent following a Welsh Rugby Union general committee meeting tonight.
Henry's departure follows hot on the heels of Wales' 54-10 Six Nations Championship thrashing against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
The WRU issued a statement which read: "The Welsh Rugby Union general committee regrets to have to announce that after a meeting between the Wales national coach Graham Henry and senior officers of the Union, it has been agreed by both parties that Graham will leave his position this week.
"Both sides have thought deeply about this decision and believe it has been taken with the best interests of Welsh rugby in mind."
Glanmor Griffiths, chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union general committee, said: "The WRU general committee would like to thank Graham Henry for his contribution to Welsh rugby since his appointment as our national coach in August, 1998, and would like to wish him and his family all the best in the future."
Henry's deal, reputed to be worth Stg£250,000 a year, made him the highest paid coach in Welsh rugby history.
Henry, 54, still has some 20 months remaining of a five-year contract which should have taken him through to the 2003 World Cup.
But Wales will now have a new coach - albeit probably a caretaker one - at the helm for Saturday week's Six Nations appointment with France.