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BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wales to add Halfpenny to coaching staff for Japan series
Wales will confirm former full-back Leigh Halfpenny will be added to the coaching team for next month's trip to will work under interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the two Test tour as kicking coach, a role that has been occupied by Neil Jenkins for almost 20 will also 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 coaches who were part of Warren Gatland's backroom staff, including Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, will not be involved in would be involved for the first time as the kicking coach and is expected to be involved full time from next 36-year-old former British and Irish Lion has left Harlequins and is expected to continue playing by joining French second division side Beziers next who has been an important mentor for Halfpenny during his career with the pair remaining close, is currently helping Wales Under-20s before the Junior World Championship starts later this month. Sherratt will again act in the caretaker role he adopted during the Six Nations after Gatland resigned in Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) performance director Dave Reddin is leading the hunt for Gatland's permanent Japan, Wales will look to end a record run of successive 17 Test losses, having not won an international since October 2023 in a run that includes 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 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 later.
North Wales Chronicle
21-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Matt Sherratt to resume Wales interim head coach role for Japan tour in July
Cardiff boss Sherratt took charge for Wales' final three Six Nations games this season after Warren Gatland left following defeat against Italy in Rome. Wales ended their Six Nations campaign with a record 68-14 home loss to England and have suffered 17-successive Test defeats that started with a 2023 World Cup quarter-final reversal against Argentina. 🚨 🏴 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 🇯🇵 Matt Sherratt will resume the head coach role on an interim basis. Joining Sherratt in the coaching team this summer are Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, T. Rhys Thomas & Danny Wilson 🤝 ➡️ — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) May 20, 2025 Sherratt, though, will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for appointments with Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe seven days later. Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, who were part of Gatland's coaching staff throughout his second spell in charge, will not be involved this summer. Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson and the Premiership club's scrum specialist Adam Jones will join Sherratt on the tour, in addition to Gloucester's TR Thomas and former Wales prop Gethin Jenkins. Jones and Thomas worked alongside Sherratt during the Six Nations and – together with interim forwards coach Wilson – are on secondment from their Premiership clubs. Defence coach Jenkins, meanwhile, is on secondment from Cardiff. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men's side on an interim basis for the Japan tour. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. 'It was a tough campaign, but we know we are in safe hands while we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.' Sherratt added: 'I am delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer. It is 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.' Sherratt has named a 33-strong squad for the Japan tour, with Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake chosen as captain. There are six uncapped players in Keelan Giles, Macs Page, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman and Garyn Phillips. Fly-half Sam Costelow, prop Archie Griffin and lock Bem Carter all return after missing the Six Nations through injury. But Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery and misses out, along with Scarlets prop Henry Thomas, who the WRU say will seek specialist opinion on a long-term condition, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are rested. Notable absentees from the squad includes Gloucester backs Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Josh Hathaway, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Cardiff flanker James Botham. Squad: Backs – J Adams (Cardiff), S Costelow (Scarlets), D Edwards (Ospreys), K Giles (Ospreys), K Hardy (Ospreys), R Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), B Murray (Scarlets), M Page (Scarlets), J Roberts (Scarlets), T Rogers (Scarlets), B Thomas (Cardiff), J Williams (Scarlets), R Williams (Dragons), C Winnett (Cardiff). Forwards – K Assiratti (Cardiff), L Belcher (Cardiff), B Carter (Dragons), C Coleman (Dragons), E Dee (Dragons), T Faletau (Cardiff), A Griffin (Bath), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), J MacLeod (Scarlets), A Mann (Cardiff), G Phillips (Ospreys), T Plumtree (Scarlets), J Ratti (Ospreys), T Reffell (Leicester), N Smith (Leicester), G Thomas (Ospreys), F Thomas (Gloucester), A Wainwright (Dragons), T Williams (Cardiff).
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Acting Wales rugby coach Matt Sherratt stays on for Japan tour
Matt Sherratt Photo: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency Coach Matt Sherratt will continue in charge of Wales and take them on tour to Japan in July as he named a squad with 16 changes from their disastrous 2025 Six Nations campaign that extended the team's losing streak to a record 17 matches. Sherratt was acting coach for the last three games of this year's Six Nations as Wales sought a replacement for Warren Gatland, who departed in February amid a record-breaking run of losses. Sherratt will have as his assistants for the Japan trip his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, the Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum), and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas. Former Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny will be involved for the first time as the kicking coach. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer," said Sherratt in a statement on Tuesday. "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 said they were grateful to Sherratt for staying on. He had previously said he did not want the job on a full-time basis. "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. Despite having only flanker Jac Morgan and scrumhalf Tomos Williams absent as they tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions, Sherratt has made wholesale changes, and included six uncapped players in the squad for the games against Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe seven days later. Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman, Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Macs Page will all hope to earn a first cap, with Dewi Lake to captain the side. Fit-again flyhalf Sam Costelow and fullback Cameron Winnett are back in the mix, but James Botham, Gareth Anscombe, Ellis Mee, Nick Tompkins and Max Llewellyn all miss out. Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Liam Belcher, Ben Carter, Chris Coleman, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Josh Macleod, Alex Mann, Garyn Phillips, Taine Plumtree, James Ratti, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Teddy Williams. Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Keelan Giles, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Rhodri Williams, Cameron Winnett. - Reuters
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson joins Wales set-up for summer tour of Japan but will return to London club
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson will be a part of Wales' coaching staff for the country's summer tour of Japan alongside his club compatriot Adam Jones. Wales, currently on a horror run of 17 Test defeats, do not have a permanent employee in charge of the team with that recruitment process ongoing. Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt will step in on an interim basis for the two July Tests with the Brave Blossoms who are now led by former England boss Eddie Jones. Sherratt stepped in for Wales' final three games of the Six Nations earlier this year after the departure of Warren Gatland and will do so again in the weeks to come. Wilson and Jones will assist him as forwards and scrum coaches respectively on loan from Harlequins. Jones did the same role with Wales in the Six Nations. Gethin Jenkins (defence) and TR Thomas (forwards assistant) will also head to the Far East as part of Sherratt's staff. Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, the forwards and defence coaches in the Six Nations, have not been offered new Wales deals and will move on. New Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby Dave Reddin is leading the search for Wales' next permanent head coach, but any appointment won't be in place until the November Tests at the earliest. It is understood that after being confirmed in his new role last month, Reddin has started the head coach recruitment process from scratch. Wilson and Jones will both return to their roles at Harlequins for the start of the 2025/26 season, as will Sherratt and Jenkins with Cardiff and Thomas with Gloucester. WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again on an interim basis for the Japan tour. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. '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.' Captain Jac Morgan and first-choice scrum-half Tomos Williams were the only Welsh players selected for this summer's British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. They won't travel to Japan as a result. Hooker Dewi Lake takes over as skipper of what looks a weak squad on paper. Jones and Japan – only one place behind Wales in World Rugby's rankings – will really fancy their chances of an upset. Wales will be without key forwards Daf Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Henry Thomas. Exeter lock Jenkins will have elective surgery this summer, while his fellow second rows Rowlands and Montpellier-bound Beard are being rested. Without them, Wales' party lacks size. Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Jarrod Evans, Ellis Mee, Eddie James and James Botham – who were all involved in the Six Nations squad – are notable omissions for Japan due to a combination of injury, moves abroad and non-selection. There are six uncapped players in Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman, Keelan Giles, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Garyn Phillips and Macs Page. Wilson is a former Cardiff and Wales Under-20 head coach. He said: 'Coaching rugby at international level is a great honour and opportunity. 'Wales' summer tour is a fantastic chance to return to the international game for a short period, learn from others in the environment and ultimately develop myself further as a coach. 'I'm grateful to the Welsh Rugby Union for the opportunity and to Harlequins for allowing me to undertake the short-term role during our off-season. 'We'll return to the club in the first week of a long pre-season campaign to begin our preparations for the 2025/26 season.'
Rhyl Journal
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Matt Sherratt to resume Wales interim head coach role for Japan tour in July
Cardiff boss Sherratt took charge for Wales' final three Six Nations games this season after Warren Gatland left following defeat against Italy in Rome. Wales ended their Six Nations campaign with a record 68-14 home loss to England and have suffered 17-successive Test defeats that started with a 2023 World Cup quarter-final reversal against Argentina. 🚨 🏴 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 🇯🇵 Matt Sherratt will resume the head coach role on an interim basis. Joining Sherratt in the coaching team this summer are Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, T. Rhys Thomas & Danny Wilson 🤝 ➡️ — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) May 20, 2025 Sherratt, though, will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for appointments with Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe seven days later. Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, who were part of Gatland's coaching staff throughout his second spell in charge, will not be involved this summer. Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson and the Premiership club's scrum specialist Adam Jones will join Sherratt on the tour, in addition to Gloucester's TR Thomas and former Wales prop Gethin Jenkins. Jones and Thomas worked alongside Sherratt during the Six Nations and – together with interim forwards coach Wilson – are on secondment from their Premiership clubs. Defence coach Jenkins, meanwhile, is on secondment from Cardiff. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men's side on an interim basis for the Japan tour. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. 'It was a tough campaign, but we know we are in safe hands while we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.' Sherratt added: 'I am delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer. It is 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.' Sherratt has named a 33-strong squad for the Japan tour, with Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake chosen as captain. There are six uncapped players in Keelan Giles, Macs Page, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman and Garyn Phillips. Fly-half Sam Costelow, prop Archie Griffin and lock Bem Carter all return after missing the Six Nations through injury. But Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery and misses out, along with Scarlets prop Henry Thomas, who the WRU say will seek specialist opinion on a long-term condition, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are rested. Notable absentees from the squad includes Gloucester backs Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Josh Hathaway, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Cardiff flanker James Botham. Squad: Backs – J Adams (Cardiff), S Costelow (Scarlets), D Edwards (Ospreys), K Giles (Ospreys), K Hardy (Ospreys), R Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), B Murray (Scarlets), M Page (Scarlets), J Roberts (Scarlets), T Rogers (Scarlets), B Thomas (Cardiff), J Williams (Scarlets), R Williams (Dragons), C Winnett (Cardiff). Forwards – K Assiratti (Cardiff), L Belcher (Cardiff), B Carter (Dragons), C Coleman (Dragons), E Dee (Dragons), T Faletau (Cardiff), A Griffin (Bath), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), J MacLeod (Scarlets), A Mann (Cardiff), G Phillips (Ospreys), T Plumtree (Scarlets), J Ratti (Ospreys), T Reffell (Leicester), N Smith (Leicester), G Thomas (Ospreys), F Thomas (Gloucester), A Wainwright (Dragons), T Williams (Cardiff).
