The Australian Rugby Union and the Blues have both denied reports David Nucifora has accepted the job as head of the ARU high performance unit.

New Zealand's Radio Sport website reported the former Brumbies mentor will replace Pat Howard in the job at the end of this year's 2008 Super 14 season.

Nucifora is off contract with the Blues this year and has been consistently linked with the ARU role.

He has also been linked with the soon to be vacant NSW Waratahs coaching position.

But the Blues and the Auckland Rugby Union denied the move, as did the ARU.

Nucifora took over as Blues head coach in 2005, having been axed from the Brumbies job midway through the previous season, in which the Canberra-based side won the Super 12 tournament.

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