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Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
The search for Wales' new head coach, why it's taking time and names still in frame
The search for Wales' new head coach, why it's taking time and names still in frame The WRU's search for a new head coach shows no sign of ending WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and newly appointment Dave Reddin, director of rugby and elite performance (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Welsh Rugby Union's search for a new head coach remains ongoing three months after they parted ways with Warren Gatland. Matt Sherratt will lead Wales to Japan as interim head coach, having held that role for the final three games of the Six Nations, but the identity of Gatland's long-term successor has not been finalised. The WRU have chosen not to rush into an appointment, but while there is no deadline on the appointment Welsh rugby is in need of a long-term head coach who can work closely with the new director of rugby Dave Reddin to plot a way forward for the game in Wales. In the weeks after parting ways with Gatland, the WRU did make contact with agents and coaches, with a number of early contenders emerging. Ireland's Simon Easterby was a name high up on the list, with his thorough knowledge and experience of Welsh rugby after almost 20 years as a player and coach at the Scarlets marking him out as a prime candidate. Experienced Australian Michael Cheika was also someone of interest, while Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam confirmed to WalesOnline on the Welsh Rugby Podcast the WRU had enquired about his availability. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below But Lam is in the middle of a long-term contract at Bristol and, while Cheika is leaving Leicester Tigers at the end of the season, his family are based in Australia. Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith, who led the Scottish club to the United Rugby Championship title last season, was another leading contender. "I would like to coach international rugby again... you never know," the former Newport outside-half told Premier Sports when asked whether he'd be interested in the Wales job. But there was another dynamic to Smith's position with many in the game touting the South African as Gregor Townsend's long-term successor as head coach of Scotland. However, Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy then became the frontrunner for the job having held talks with the WRU. But Reddin has taken over the search for a new head coach since being appointed DOR and, as a result, the WRU have taken a breath. WalesOnline understands Tandy remains a strong contender, while former England boss Stuart Lancaster's name has also been thrown into the mix. Lancaster departed French giants Racing 92 in February and has since revealed he was in contention to become head coach of Australia before missing out to Queensland Reds boss Les Kiss. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free It also appears Glasgow boss Smith remains in the frame for the job, while RugbyPass recently linked former England prop Graham Rowntree with the role following his exit from Munster. The feeling is some of the coaches who Sherratt has taken to Japan will be contenders to be part of a new long-term coaching team. Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum) join on secondment in the summer but both are contenders for long-term roles with the WRU, while there have been suggestions Sherratt could stay on as attack coach, especially if Tandy gets the main job. While the WRU are wise not to rush into an appointment there does need to be a sense of urgency. Welsh rugby is on the floor after a record 17 defeats in a row for the men's national side, while things have also blown up off the field with two clubs - Ospreys and Scarlets - refusing to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement. The permanent head coach needs to be in place not only to start preparing for next season but also to run the rule over the pathway and to start building relationships with the professional clubs. The future of the professional game in Wales is uncertain and that is likely to be a hindrance with regard to attracting high-quality candidates. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below As Welsh rugby faces one of the most challenging periods in its modern history, the appointment of a permanent head coach is no longer just a matter of sporting strategy — it is a crucial step toward restoring stability, credibility and hope. With the professional landscape in flux and the national team in dire need of direction, the WRU must strike the right balance between patience and purpose. Whoever takes the reins will inherit more than a team — they will shoulder the responsibility of reigniting belief across a fractured rugby nation.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sherratt aims to lift Wales' losing burden in Japan
Interim boss Matt Sherratt is hoping a Test win in Japan in July will ensure Wales' new permanent head coach is not saddled by the squad's record losing ended their Six Nations campaign in March with a record 68-14 home loss to England that represented a 17th successive Test will again fill the caretaker role he adopted during the Six Nations and lead Wales against Japan in Kitakyushu on 5 July and Kobe seven days will return to Cardiff and make way for the new appointment, but says victory and not development is what matters against Eddie Jones' Japan."The development angle should be left to the next guy coming in," said Sherratt. "Probably a big part of doing it when I was asked a couple of weeks ago, was laying a foundation for the next guy coming in."I don't think it's our job as coaches to look at the big picture. We'll be in camp for six or seven weeks and it's a short tour."With the world rankings and Japan being one place behind, it's about going there and trying to get a result."The last time Wales tasted victory was against Georgia in October 2023, and that losing run has seen the team slip to a record low of 12th in the world Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) director of rugby Dave Reddin is leading the search for a new permanent head coach to replace Warren Gatland, who resigned in February."I would love for the next guy to look at the team, think there's something to build on and not have that losing record around their neck," Sherratt added. Avoiding another Welsh rugby crisis Players will start preparing for Wales' tour next week amid the backdrop of the latest crisis to hit Welsh rugby between the WRU and its professional sides, with Ospreys and Scarlets in a dispute with the governing body about unequal funding WRU made the announcement it was reverting to a two-tier funding model amid reports it intends to cut a professional team, although it has neither confirmed nor denied if reducing the amount of sides from four to three is part of its says this recent turmoil had not deterred him from again accepting the caretaker role after he had taken charge for the final three games of the Six Nations."I've been in this job long enough, I just concentrate on the rugby," said Sherratt. "I love coaching, that's my motivation."I'll let other people who are way above my pay grade worry about the future of the regions and the national game. "It's probably bigger news outside of an environment than it is inside. I'm sure in the background, after the tour, that may be an issue."As soon as you come into an international camp, you are a bit cocooned. The players are busy focusing on playing and training, so all the big-picture stuff seems to go away." There is more harmony between the coaches with Sherratt saying he sought advice from the other regional Wales bosses when selecting the squad, even sounding out some to join his backroom team."I thought it was important I spoke to the WRU about having some other regional coaches involved, but unfortunately they were not all able to do it for various reasons," said Sherratt."They've been involved, not directly, with selection and been more than helpful to me."The 33-man squad Sherratt came up with includes Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake as captain with Jac Morgan away with the British and Irish are six uncapped players in Keelan Giles, Macs Page, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman and Garyn captain Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery and misses out, along with Scarlets prop Henry Thomas, who the WRU says will seek specialist opinion on a long-term condition, while Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn is also Adam Beard and Will Rowlands have been rested, while notable absentees from the squad includes Gloucester fly-half Gareth Anscombe, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Cardiff flanker James Botham with uncapped Ospreys number eight also missing Sam Costelow, prop Archie Griffin and lock Ben Carter return after missing the Six Nations through injury. New backroom boys Sherratt will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him in Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson and the Premiership club's scrum specialist Adam Jones, in addition to Gloucester's Rhys Thomas and former Wales prop Gethin and Thomas worked alongside Sherratt during the Six Nations and - together with interim forwards coach Wilson - are on secondment from their Premiership clubs, while defence coach Jenkins has been released by WRU-owned Cardiff."There's a big change happening at the moment with the system," said Sherratt."The WRU were clear they wanted to take an interim staff. As soon as they said that, it was important - with the limited time - that we'd worked together before. "It's a familiar staff. Having staff harmony rubs off on the players. It's important I had people I know and trust."Wales will consider adding a kicking coach at a later date, with Leigh Halfpenny linked with a role that Neil Jenkins has filled for almost 20 Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, who were part of Gatland's coaching staff throughout his second spell in charge, will not be involved this summer, while Rob Howley and Alex King are also again detail have been provided about their futures, with Sherratt saying their fate will be decided by others."That's for the next coach to make that decision, as well as the top of the WRU," Sherratt added."That wasn't something I was comfortable with getting involved in."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Caretaker coach Sherratt to lead Wales in Japan
Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt will resume as Wales' interim head coach for the two-Test tour of Japan in are searching for a permanent head coach following the departure of Warren Gatland in process is being led by new director of rugby Dave Reddin but the successor will not be in place for the summer programme, with Sherratt again taking the will be joined in his backroom staff by his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum) and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas. Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, who were part of Warren Gatland's backroom staff, will not be involved in are expected to add a kicking coach with Leigh Halfpenny linked with the role Neil Jenkins has occupied. 2025 Sherratt was put in charge of Wales after just two matches of the Six Nations following Gatland's departure but lost his three games at the helm against Ireland, Scotland and then England - a record 68-14 defeat in will return to the Wales defence coach role he held under Wayne Pivac before he was deemed surplus to requirements when Gatland returned in December 2022."I'm delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer," said Sherratt."It's an exciting prospect to go to Japan for two matches in July. We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign."WRU chief executive Abi Tierney says they are grateful to Sherratt taking over the reins."The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed," said Tierney."It was a tough campaign but we know we are in safe hands whilst we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach."Former Wales full-back Halfpenny would be involved for the first time as the kicking coach. The 36-year-old ex-British and Irish Lion has left Harlequins and is expected to continue playing by joining French second division side Beziers next season. Wales will look to end a record run of successive 17 Test losses in Japan, having not won an international since October 2023 with two successive Six Nations Wooden will play the Test matches against Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu and Kobe aiming not to slip from their lowest ever position of 12th in the world rankings. The first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July in the city where Wales held their Rugby World Cup training camp in second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days men have won 13 of their 14 previous meetings with Japan, with the most recent encounter, in Cardiff in 2016, ending in a 33-30 victory for the home only loss in this fixture came in the summer of 2013 when they lost 23-8 in Tokyo.
Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Squad to select but no coach to pick it — mess that sums up Welsh rugby
It neatly sums up the withering uncertainty enveloping Welsh rugby that the national team's squad to tour Japan this summer will be announced on Tuesday without a permanent head coach in place. Indeed, the interim coach for this tour has not been named yet either, but you can be pretty sure it will be Cardiff's Matt Sherratt, who took over temporarily during the Six Nations when Warren Gatland departed, but he will probably have a very different set of assistants from then, as the old Gatland guard of Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw have not been offered new contracts. Meanwhile the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will continue its search for a permanent head coach under new director of rugby and elite performance, Dave Reddin, even
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dave Reddin steps in with new candidates in Wales head coach search
Dave Reddin is about to stamp his own authority on the Welsh Rugby Union's search for a new head coach. The WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance does not start full-time until September 1, but will be heavily involved in the search for Warren Gatland's long-term replacement. WRU chiefs sounded out a number of potential candidates before Reddin's appointment, with Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy the leading contender for the vacant role. But WalesOnline understands Reddin has looked at the work that has gone on before his appointment and wants to stamp his own authority on proceedings by bringing new names to the table. READ MORE: Andy Farrell makes feelings clear on Welsh Lions call-ups despite lowest touring party in nearly 90 years READ MORE: Lawrence Dallaglio's estranged wife puts £2.7m home up for sale to save him from bankruptcy The WRU will retain Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt as interim head coach for this summer's tour of Japan because they have left it too late in the day to get a permanent replacement for Gatland in time. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The likes of Tandy, Ireland coach Simon Easterby and Glasgow Warriors' Franco Smith remain strong contenders for the job but WalesOnline understands Reddin wants to also look at some new options. Wales could also consider former England head coach Stuart Lancaster who has been out of work since parting ways with Racing 92. Lancaster was a contender for the Wallabies job but Rugby Australia instead opted for Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss to succeed Joe Schmidt in 2026, meaning the former England coach is back on the market. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. In a previous interview Reddin said he wanted the new head coach to be fully immersed in the Welsh game, with the remit expected to go over and above just coaching the team. Working with Wales' four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - is also essential along with the senior pathway. "The head coach should be someone who is collaborative, curious and open-minded, as opposed to coming in with a very fixed view of, 'This is how I do it'," said Reddin. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "This is not a part-time thing. We want someone who is part of the system all of the time and is going to be interacting with junior teams, academies and regions; not just being there for the Test matches."
