Warren Gatland has left his position as Wales head coach by mutual consent after the side’s record-extending 14th straight defeat.
Saturday’s 22-15 Six Nations loss to Italy in Rome – Wales’ first on Italian soil in 18 years – followed a 43-0 drubbing to France in round one, raising the prospect of successive wooden spoons.
WRU CEO Abi Tierney revealed to media on Tuesday Gatland had called her first to initiate the end.
“Warren rang me yesterday and we spoke about what was best for Wales going forward,” she said.
“It wasn’t working. He had always felt he was the best person to make the change and take the team forward but he no longer felt that.
“So it was important for the team and public that we made the change even though, ideally, wouldn’t do it in the middle of the Six Nations.
“It is always difficult to reach a decision, there was a mounting sense that something wasn’t working.
“Warren no longer felt that he was the right man to take the team forward and when that happens you have to look for a solution, even if ideally you wouldn’t do that in the middle of a tournament.”
Cardiff Rugby head coach Matt Sherratt will take over for the final three Six Nations matches, against Ireland, Scotland and England, with Wales hoping to appoint a permanent successor ahead of the summer.
Gatland oversaw just six victories in 26 Tests since returning for a second stint in charge and Wales have now dropped to a new low of 12th in the World Rugby rankings, a place below Georgia.
In his first spell in the role, the New Zealander won three Six Nations Grand Slams, reached two World Cup semi-finals and presided over a run of 14 consecutive victories.
Tierney: Crisis isn’t Wales, it’s rugby globally | Sherratt: I won’t be putting name in full-time
But from 14 consecutive victories, Wales have now experienced 14 successive defeats since exciting the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup to Argentina.
Despite disquiet from all levels of the game in Wales, Tierney chose to highlight their problems as part of a wider challenge for the sport.
“I think there is a crisis in rugby globally, in terms of TV rights, fanbase, attracting younger fans, the structure of the game – I don’t think it is just Wales,” she said.
“We feel it maybe more keenly because we are a small country. We have to build our heroes and stars of tomorrow. Of course it makes me sad to hear of ex-internationals who are not watching the current team.
Gatland has left his position as Wales head coach
“We have now got a strategy for going forward that is 90% agreed with the region.
“There is a far better relationship between the WRU and regions than for a very long time and that is proved by how I could ring Cardiff last night and ask for help with Matt Sherratt.”
Caretaker head coach Sherratt said:
“This will be until the end of the Six Nations. I am contracted to Cardiff. It is not something I will be putting my name forward for.
“I will do it until the end of the Six Nations and then go back to Cardiff.”
Gatland departure in Wales’ ‘best interests’
Gatland said of his departure: “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.
“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.
Gatland’s second spell in charge of Wales has been a struggle
“I wish whoever takes over all the best for the future. Finally, I want to say a big thank you to the Welsh fans.”
Tierney added: “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 takes over at a pivotal time. It is a credit to him that he has not hesitated to answer Wales’ 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.
“Matt will return to Cardiff Rugby after the Six Nations in order to concentrate his efforts on what is already a promising campaign for our capital club.
“Our intention is to have a permanent appointment in place before this summer’s two-Test tour to Japan, with all options open.”
Wales sit bottom of the Six Nations table after two rounds
Candidates for the permanent role could include Glasgow head coach Franco Smith, former Australia boss Michael Cheika and Wales-based Simon Easterby, who is the interim Ireland boss for the Six Nations while Andy Farrell prepares to take charge of the Lions in Australia later this year.
Who will take on international rugby’s ‘poisoned chalice’?
Sky Sports News’ James Cole:
The defeat to Italy on Saturday – and its nature – made the New Zealander’s position untenable. Fourteen losses in a row; a 43-0 drubbing in Paris a week earlier; questionable selection decisions; a confused game plan and no tangible on-field progress. There could only be one outcome.
It is a very sad end to Gatland’s legacy in Wales, where his first 12-year spell was so successful that the WRU named the Principality Stadium gates after him. Those three Grand Slams, two World Cup semi-finals and a record 14-straight victories now seem an eternity ago.
There are huge mitigating factors. But despite all the issues surrounding professional rugby in Wales, the national team is simply not equalling the sum of its parts.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith could be in the mix to take over from Gatland
Gatland’s decision to leave in-form Gloucester duo Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn out of his Six Nations squad sent alarm bells ringing at the time – and nothing we’ve seen since has justified their absence.
The big question now is: who will succeed Gatland long term and take on what many perceive to be international rugby’s poisoned chalice?
Michael Cheika’s name will circulate, but he has made it clear he wants to return to Australia for family reasons. Australia head coach Joe Schmidt will be available later this year, but similarly the New Zealander wants to spend more time at home with his family. Regardless of their personal circumstances, however, it’s hard to see a scenario where either would have wanted a sip of the aforementioned chalice.
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby would appear a good fit; he spent much of his career at the Scarlets and currently lives in south Wales. Another coach whose stock is high is Franco Smith. The South African led Glasgow to the United Rugby Championship last season. But again, would either want to take the risk of seeing their stock crash in Wales?
Talking of stock, there is a phrase in investment known as ‘dead-cat bounce’ – a short-term recovery in a declining trend. Welsh rugby fans will hope they’ve reached rock bottom and a bounce is inevitable. However with Ireland visiting Cardiff a week on Saturday, that may be optimistic thinking.
Gatland has left his role – but Wales’ problems run far deeper than just the head coach
‘Wales’ problems run far deeper than Gatland’
Sky Sports’ Michael Morrow:
“This appointment is no quick fix, nor sticking plaster, it is part of our long-term planning for the game in Wales.”
That was the assessment of since-departed WRU boss Steve Phillips upon the reappointment of Gatland in December 2022.
Gatland, Wales’ longest-serving and most successful head coach, was brought back as a white knight to arrest what had become a worrying slide down the world rankings since his departure after the 2019 World Cup.
It turned out to be a task too big; even for the man responsible for overseeing Welsh rugby’s golden era.
The extent to which Gatland bears responsibility for Wales’ current record-breaking losing run and lowest-ever world ranking is up for debate.
Wales have tumbled to 12th in the world rankings
His selection decisions have raised eyebrows; Ben Thomas has started both games in this year’s Six Nations at fly-half despite playing almost exclusively at centre for his club, while a raft of experienced players have been overlooked completely.
The reality, however, is that Gatland was at worst a symptom of Wales’ problems, most certainly not the source.
The slide started long before his return, and a look at their current squad compared to the Lions-studded teams of the 2000s and 2010s tells you the player panel is not even a pale imitation of what it was during those halcyon days.
“Serious failures of governance”, slashes to the budgets of professional clubs and a raft of other issues have resulted in poor on-field results at club, U20, senior women’s and men’s levels.
Even in Wales, a historically rugby-obsessed nation, consistently poor results will lead to despair and then – worst of all – apathy among the public, which if untreated will only further hasten the decline.
Gatland failed in his mission to get Wales back on course but, in the current conditions, is there a coach in the world who can succeed?
