The Welsh Rugby Union Faces Difficult Decisions as Gatland’s Tenure Comes to an End
Warren Gatland, the head coach of Wales rugby, is set to part ways with the team following a challenging run of results, according to sources close to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The 61-year-old New Zealander, who has been at the helm twice – from 2007 to 2019 and again from 2022 – is now facing increasing pressure after a series of disappointing defeats.
During his previous tenure, Gatland established himself as one of Wales’s most successful and longest-serving coaches, earning a lasting legacy with the Welsh Rugby Union. The Principality Stadium in Cardiff even honoured him in 2019 by renaming a gate “Gatland’s Gate.” However, his second stint has been marred by a string of setbacks. The team is currently enduring an unprecedented 14-game losing streak, with no victories in this year’s Six Nations championship.
Wales’s poor performance during the autumn international series, which included a historic loss to Fiji on home soil, set the tone for a tumultuous year. The national team also finished last in the 2023 Six Nations, taking the wooden spoon for the first time since 2003. The team’s current Six Nations campaign has failed to lift spirits, as they suffered a heavy defeat to France (43-0) in their opening match and a subsequent loss to Italy (22-15).
Gatland’s return to the Welsh rugby fold followed the dismissal of Wayne Pivac, but it hasn’t been the revival many hoped for. The experienced coach, who also led the British and Irish Lions on three separate tours (2013, 2017, 2021), had hoped to reinvigorate Wales’s rugby fortunes. Prior to his second tenure, Gatland had led Wales to four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams, and was renowned for his ability to build successful teams.
Earlier this year, Gatland defended his position amid growing criticism, urging his detractors to “write us off at your peril.” However, despite his optimism, the team’s struggles have continued, with little sign of improvement.
Further turmoil at the WRU saw the resignation of Nigel Walker in December, who stepped down as executive director of rugby, acknowledging that the team’s poor performances over the past year had led to his departure.
Sky News understands that the WRU will soon confirm Gatland’s exit from the role, marking the end of an era for the coach who once led Wales to great heights.
