Warren Gatland leaves role as Wales head coach
Warren Gatland’s second reign as Wales head coach has come to an end.
The Welsh Rugby Union has called time on Gatland’s tenure with immediate effect on Tuesday afternoon, meaning he will not be in charge when Wales resume their Guinness Six Nations campaign at home to title favourites Ireland on February 22.
It follows a record run of 14 successive Test match defeats that began with Wales’ 2023 World Cup quarter-final loss to Argentina.
Gatland has found himself behind the eight-ball following opening Six Nations games that produced a 43-0 drubbing by France and 22-15 loss to Italy, which was Wales’ first defeat in Rome for 17 years.
If Gatland goes mid-tournament, the WRU would be required to appoint an interim head coach for remaining Six Nations fixtures against Ireland, Scotland and England.
Current Wales assistant coach Rob Howley filled that role during Gatland’s first reign as Wales boss when the New Zealander was on British and Irish Lions coaching duties.
A permanent successor to Gatland, should he depart, would ideally be in place for Wales’ two-Test summer tour to Japan.
Candidates in the mix could include current Glasgow head coach Franco Smith, former Australia boss Michael Cheika and Wales-based Simon Easterby, who is interim Ireland boss for the Six Nations while Andy Farrell prepares to take charge of the Lions in Australia later this year.
Wales are not expected to remotely trouble Ireland in their next game, and they will arrive there from a new World Rugby-rankings low of 12th, having been overtaken by Georgia.
The WRU assessed Wales’ miserable Autumn Nations Series campaign earlier this season, which featured defeats against Fiji, Australia and South Africa, before backing Gatland to continue.
But speaking at the time, WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: “I’ve had a number of very honest conversations with Warren, and I will make no secret of the fact that his position was on the line as we undertook our review.
“Further than that, like any head coach in any sport, he knows the security of his position is directly related to the performances of the team, and that this is a situation that will continue to intensify.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Before the arrival of Agent Abigail he secured around 70 test victories, Grand Slams, Lions Tours, etc, then after her arrival 13 losses from 13 matches. Within a year we went from putting 40 on Australia to conceding 50 against the same opposition. I believe the scenario is known as ‘the elephant in the room’. Gatland wanted out a year ago, so I thought Agent Abigail would hide behind him until the end of the Six Nations, before moving on to the next excuse – if there is one. His assistant coaches should now refuse to take the head coach… Read more »
Sad end to a great journey. 2 world cup semi finals, 3 six nations titles, 3 grand slams and 3 triple crowns, and the term “warrenball” adopted into rugby folklore. Thanks for the memories, but this last attempt to “paper over the cracks” has just not worked. Good luck in the future, and now, maybe, the whole of rugby in Cymru can put aside petty differences and self interest, and move forward correcting past failures. But I wont hold my breath, it is the way of the Cymru to self destruct.