Warren Gatland steps down as Wales head coach

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WARREN GATLAND has bowed to overwhelming public pressure in agreeing "by mutual consent"  to leave his role as head coach of the Wales men’s rugby team with immediate effect after two rounds of the 2025 Six Nations.

News of the New Zealander’s departure comes less than three days after Wales’ 22-15 defeat to Italy in Rome, which came hot on the heels of a 43-0 shellacking to France in Paris, and was the team’s 14th consecutive defeat in a run stretching back to the World Cup pool stage win over Georgia in October 2023.

Gatland only just survived a Welsh Rugby Union review before Christmas, when he was strongly criticised by his players for his performance and methods during Wales’ Autumn whitewash to Fiji, Australia and South Africa.

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Cardiff's Matt Sherratt will take temporary charge of the team through the remainder of the Six Nations, which sees Grand Slam chasing Ireland visiting the Principality in two Saturdays’ time, followed by a trip to Edinburgh to take on Scotland on Saturday 8th March, and then another home match against England on Saturday 15th March.

While the problems in Welsh rugby are far too deep-rooted for a change of national team head coach to be an instant panacea, the Welsh Rugby Union and their fans will hope that this radical step can at least boost confidence in the camp, while the door may now open for a return of experienced playmaker Gareth Anscombe and centre Max Llewelyn, both of Gloucester, who were surprise omissions from the original Six Nations training squad, and who could provide some much needed control and bite in the middle of the park. Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett, who impressed on his international debut against Scotland during last year’s Six Nations, could also be called up.

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby (who played almost all his senior rugby in Wales with Scarlets and still lives in Wales) and Michael Cheika (the Australian who is leaving his current role as head coach of Leicester Tigers at the end of the season) have been cited as  on the list of potential longer-term replacements for Gatland.

Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy has also previously been linked with a move back to Wales to work with the national team of his homeland but would not be the same calibre of box-office signing as those mentioned above, while Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith seems to be linked with all high profile coaching vacancies at the moment despite his contract at Scotstoun running to 2026.

Gatland — who signed a contract to the end of the 2027 World Cup after the 2023 tournament — joins previous Wales coaches like Graham Henry and Mike Ruddock who have left their positions mid-tournament. It is an inauspicious end to a long association with Wales, with the 61-year-old having enjoyed significant success during his first tenure as head coach between December 2007 and November 2019, when he won four Six Nations titles (including three Grand Slams), as well as reaching two World Cup semi-finals in 2011 and 2019. Gatland was also head coach of three British & Irish Lions tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

"The WRU and Warren have agreed that making this change now is in the best interests of the Wales squad as it continues to compete in the 2025 Six Nations tournament," said the WRU chief executive Abi Tierney.

"We are grateful to Warren for all he has done for the game in Wales. He remains our longest-serving and most decorated head coach in terms of the silverware he has won.

"Matt Sherratt takes over at a pivotal time. It is a credit to him that he has not hesitated to answer Wales's call and is also testament to the strong relationship that now exists throughout the Welsh professional game that Cardiff Rugby are fully supportive of the move.”

No announcement has been made on the rest of Wales’ current coaching team, which includes defence coach Mike Forshaw, attack coach Rob Howley, forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys and skills coach Neil Jenkins.

"I would like to thank the WRU board for the faith shown in me after a tough campaign throughout 2024 and affording me the time and resource to try to turn things around for this 2025 tournament,” said Gatland.

"We have worked hard, we have a talented young squad that is developing and have been desperate to turn potential into results but now is the right time for a change.

"I've reached the end of this particular chapter, but I remain grateful to all those in Wales who have supported me, to all the players who have played for me and to all those around me, especially my management team, who have contributed to what we have achieved over the years. I wish whoever takes over all the best for the future. Finally, I want to say a big thank you to the Welsh fans."

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The post Warren Gatland steps down as Wales head coach appeared first on Scottish Rugby News from The Offside Line.