Pool B/ Fiji 38 Wales 34: The Welsh Rugby Union acted swiftly and decisively to sack head coach Gareth Jenkins less than 24 hours after Wales crashed out of the World Cup.

Jenkins was informed of the decision in a meeting with WRU chief executive Roger Lewis andchairman David Pickering at the team hotel yesterday morning.

He paid the price for failing to meet the minimum expectations of a place in the World Cup quarter-finals and the WRU will now launch a worldwide search for a replacement. The rest of the Wales coaching staff - Nigel Davies, Neil Jenkins, Robin McBryde and Rowland Phillips - will all have their positions reviewed by the WRU in the coming days.

The writing was on the wall for Jenkins within hours of Saturday' night's 38-34 defeat to Fiji, whichcondemned Wales to their worst World Cup performance in the professional era. Whispers quickly began doing the rounds that he was on his way out.

Jenkins himself insisted immediately after the game that he would not resign and there was no need for "panic" or "knee-jerk reactions".

He was under contract until the end of the Six Nations and wanted a chance to present his case to the WRU board. It was not granted. The board met in Nantes on Saturday night and it was decided Jenkins should stand down so planning for the 2011 World Cup could begin immediately.

Lewis said: "The board of the Welsh Rugby Union met last night. A decision has been made, which Gareth has accepted, that he is no longer the national coach of Wales.

"No-one would deny the total commitment, passion and dedication that Gareth Jenkins has given to the cause. Our World Cup journey came to an end yesterday. It is now about 2011."

Lewis said: "Sixteen months is a tough call but Gareth has always said 'judge me on the World Cup'. When we are at this level it is about winning."

In a short statement issued yesterday afternoon, Jenkins said: "I accept and understand the decision that has been taken and I leave the post with sadness but no regrets.

"I have worked with a tremendous team of coaches, administrators and players and I leave in the full knowledge that we have given it our all."

The defeat to Fiji may have been as dramatic as any game in Worlc Cup history and provided this year's tournament with its biggest shock.

Gareth Thomas's Welsh team, with its dazzling backline, were expected to use the game as a stepping-stone to a quarter-final with the Springboks. Instead Fiji, still best known for sevens rugby, won - and deservedly.

A side may never again score 23 tries and fail to make the last eight. Some of Wales's rugby has been breathtaking - Shane Williams's try just after the break was a gem - but they lack the ability up front to control games.

Throwing the ball around against Fiji was always going to be risky and, sure enough, when the brilliant wing Vilimoni Delasau was held up on the line four minutes from time Wales could notprevent the prop Graham Dewes from burrowing over for the winning try.

Fiji had shaken Wales with three tries in 10 minutes in the first half, one from the flanker Akapusi Qera. But when Qera was sent to the sin-bin just before the interval Wales took advantage after half-time to turn the course of the game with three tries in six minutes from Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones. The Fiji fly-half Nicky Little, though, was inspired and his two penalties put his team back in front before Martyn Williams's try looked to have restored order.

It was not to be and Wales will reflect that, as three kicks from Stephen Jones struck uprights, this was never going to be their day. For Fiji, however, this was the greatest day in their history, marred only by a late knee injury to Little who will be missed against South Africa. A painful end for Little but more painful for Wales.

• Guardian Service

WALES: G Thomas (capt); M Jones, Shanklin, Hook, S Williams; S Jones, Peel); Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, A W Jones, Evans, Charvis, M Williams, Popham. Replacements: Phillips for Peel (58 mins), TR Thomas for Rees (47 mins), D Jones for Horsman (65 mins), Gough for Evans (65 mins), Owen for Popham (65 mins).

FIJI: Ratuvou; Delasau, Rabeni), Bai, Neivua; Little, Rauluni (capt); Dewes, Koto, Railomo, Leawere, Rawaqa, Naevo, Qera), Koyamaibole. Replacements: Ligairi for Rabeni (67 mins), Bobo for Neivua (52 mins), Daunivuca for Little (80 mins), Qiodravu for Railomo (54 mins), Ratuva for Qera (74 mins). Sin-binQera, 39.

Referee: S Dickenson(Australia).