Simply over 24 hours after Warren Gatland tendered his resignation as Wales head coach, the Welsh Rugby Union chief execitive Abi Tierney confronted the press on the group’s base and stated the publish remained one of the vital enticing in world rugby.
“My telephone hasn’t stopped from this morning with folks reaching out who’re ,” Tierney stated.
It was fairly an announcement, given Gatland’s departure had solely simply been introduced.
Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt will tackle the function for his or her ultimate three matches of the Six Nations, however not than that. Tierney stated any new head coach must be a strong “cultural match” in addition to having the “expertise” required to handle the largest job in Welsh rugby. She stated there’s cash obtainable to go for one of the best.
However with the group on a 14-match dropping run, and your complete system in Wales needing a shake-up, it’s a robust activity.
Some names have already been talked about as potential successors to Gatland, however right here ESPN seems on the prime contenders.
Franco Smith
Present job: Glasgow Warriors head coach
Bio: Smith has intensive teaching expertise. His CV consists of teaching spells with Treviso, Cheetahs, a two-year spell with Italy as head coach, after which he took on the Glasgow Warriors job in 2022. There he has steered them to the summit: Successful the United Rugby Championship final season.
Why Wales might be : He’s a confirmed winner and has worldwide expertise with Italy — first as head coach from 2019 to 2021, after which as head of excessive efficiency for 2021-22. He’s among the many frontrunners.
Simon Easterby
Present job: Interim Eire head coach
Bio: Easterby has taken momentary cost of Eire through the Six Nations, with Andy Farrell on British & Irish Lions responsibility. He has lengthy been prompt as a potential Wales head coach, and has deep-set connections to Wales — his household is predicated within the Vale of Glamorgan. He additionally spent 15 years on the Scarlets.
Why Wales might be : He is aware of the system and has spectacular expertise at worldwide degree, having been a part of the Eire backroom setup since 2014. He has impressed as far as prime canine for Eire, however it’s unclear whether or not he has total aspirations to be a head coach.
Michael Cheika
Present job: Leicester Tigers head coach
Bio: He’s vastly skilled and has coached Leinster, Stade Francais, Waratahs, Australia, Argentina and is at present at Leicester Tigers. It has already been introduced this might be his sole season accountable for the Gallagher Premiership facet.
Why Wales might be : He took Australia to the ultimate of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and Argentina to the semifinals of the 2023 version. He has a popularity as one of many video games nice coaches prior to now couple of a long time and can be a sizeable coup for the WRU. However he has had a nomadic existence prior to now few years and would want convincing to see this as a long-term venture.
Stuart Lancaster
Present job: Unemployed
Bio: He was handed the England job in 2012 and coached them by to the 2015 World Cup, the place they didn’t get out of the pool phases. From there he joined Leinster the place he helped them to nice success and was appointed Racing 92 coach in 2023. That didn’t work out, and he was sacked earlier this yr.
Why Wales might be : He’s good at constructing pathways, and he embraces the necessity to construct a cohesive organisation, all steered in the direction of the nationwide group. However he would want the license to try this. Lancaster might be an impressed appointment and can be a long-term rent.
Brad Mooar
Present job: Crusaders assistant coach
Bio: He had a quick spell in Wales when he was Scarlets head coach for the 2019-20 marketing campaign. This was meant to be a long-term appointment, nevertheless it was minimize quick when Ian Foster and the All Blacks got here calling in 2020. He’s at present on the Crusaders and has had intensive worldwide expertise as a part of the backroom employees at Scotland, Argentina and New Zealand.
Why Wales might be : If he desires a prime worldwide job, then Wales can be an excellent match. The WRU does like a Kiwi, having beforehand employed Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and, in fact, Gatland.
Different contenders:
The incumbent Sherratt has already dominated himself out, but when he magics a few wins from their subsequent three matches, then perhaps he might be persuaded.
Shaun Edwards can be an unimaginable appointment, and he is aware of the system so properly after serving as defence coach from 2008 to 2019 beneath Gatland, however he’s contracted to France by to 2027.
Graham Rowntree is one other who is accessible after leaving Munster in October. Different contenders might embody Steve Tandy, the Scotland defence coach, or Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys. However in all probability, the subsequent coach might be one of many 5 recognized above.
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