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 staff’s base and mentioned the put up remained one of the enticing in world rugby.
“My cellphone hasn’t stopped from this morning with folks reaching out who’re ,” Tierney mentioned.
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 last three matches of the Six Nations, however not than that. Tierney mentioned 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 mentioned there’s cash accessible to go for the very best.
However with the staff on a 14-match dropping run, and the complete system in Wales needing a shake-up, it’s a powerful job.
Some names have already been talked about as potential successors to Gatland, however right here ESPN seems to be on the high contenders.
Franco Smith
Present job: Glasgow Warriors head coach
Bio: Smith has intensive teaching expertise. His CV contains 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: Profitable the United Rugby Championship final season.
Why Wales could possibly 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 non permanent cost of Eire in the course of the Six Nations, with Andy Farrell on British & Irish Lions obligation. He has lengthy been instructed as a potential Wales head coach, and has deep-set connections to Wales — his household relies within the Vale of Glamorgan. He additionally spent 15 years on the Scarlets.
Why Wales could possibly be : He is aware of the system and has spectacular expertise at worldwide stage, having been a part of the Eire backroom setup since 2014. He has impressed as far as high canine for Eire, however it’s unclear whether or not he has general 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 shall be his sole season answerable for the Gallagher Premiership facet.
Why Wales could possibly 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 previously couple of a long time and could be a sizeable coup for the WRU. However he has had a nomadic existence previously few years and would wish convincing to see this as a long-term mission.
Stuart Lancaster
Present job: Unemployed
Bio: He was handed the England job in 2012 and coached them by means of to the 2015 World Cup, the place they didn’t get out of the pool levels. 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 12 months.
Why Wales could possibly be : He’s sensible at constructing pathways, and he embraces the necessity to construct a cohesive organisation, all steered in the direction of the nationwide staff. However he would wish the license to try this. Lancaster could possibly be an impressed appointment and could be a long-term rent.
Brad Mooar
Present job: Crusaders assistant coach
Bio: He had a short spell in Wales when he was Scarlets head coach for the 2019-20 marketing campaign. This was meant to be a long-term appointment, but it surely 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 workers at Scotland, Argentina and New Zealand.
Why Wales could possibly be : If he desires a high worldwide job, then Wales could be an excellent match. The WRU does like a Kiwi, having beforehand employed Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and, after all, Gatland.
Different contenders:
The incumbent Sherratt has already dominated himself out, but when he magics a few wins from their subsequent three matches, then possibly he could possibly be persuaded.
Shaun Edwards could be an unimaginable appointment, and he is aware of the system so effectively after serving as defence coach from 2008 to 2019 underneath Gatland, however he’s contracted to France by means of to 2027.
Graham Rowntree is one other who is accessible after leaving Munster in October. Different contenders may embrace Steve Tandy, the Scotland defence coach, or Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys. However in all chance, the subsequent coach shall be one of many 5 recognized above.
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