Neil Back is set to end a 20-year association with Leicester by becoming the director of rugby at First Division Leeds. The former England and Lions flanker had been among the candidates to succeed Marcelo Loffreda as the Tigers' head coach, but the South African Heyneke Meyer has emerged as the favourite to take over at Welford Road.

Leeds want the successor to Stuart Lancaster installed by next Tuesday and Back, Leicester's defence coach, is in line to take over, although a former director of rugby at Headingley, Phil Davies, is also reported to be in the frame.

Leicester hope to make an announcement about Loffreda's successor by the end of next week. Meyer has been interviewed, along with the Cardiff Blues' head coach David Young, who has two years to run on his contract with the Welsh region and whose employers said yesterday that they would not be prepared to release him. The former South Africa coach Jake White has also been sounded out, but the Tigers balked at his demand to appoint his own back-up team.

Meyer wants to be able to appoint one assistant and Back's departure would give him the chance to do that, but Richard Cockerill will remain as forwards coach. Young, the former Wales captain and a veteran of three Lions tours, was understood to be Leicester's first choice, but they do not have the time to get involved in a contract tussle with the Blues.

The Cardiff wing Tom James might have to wait some time before adding to his three caps after criticising the Wales coach, Warren Gatland, for virtually ignoring him during the tour to South Africa earlier this month. James was left out of the side for the first Test and came on as a replacement two minutes from the end of the second. "I though it was rubbish, it was pointless going on," he said. "I know it was a Welsh cap, but to me it meant nothing. I was told I was going to be a big part of the game, but I did not get even to touch the ball. I know Shane Williams is our top winger, but I believed I was the second best ahead of Mark Jones. I had high hopes, but they came crashing down around me."

Rocky Elsom, the Australia flanker, is joining Leinster in September after being granted early release from his Wallabies contract.