- Wales were beaten 22-15 by Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday afternoon
- That defeat was their 14th in a row during a torrid run under Warren Gatland
- Gatland, who hails from New Zealand, has now left his role as head coach
Warren Gatland has departed his role as Wales head coach with immediate effect after a run of 14 consecutive international defeats.
As reported by Mail Sport, Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt was a leading contender to take on the job from Gatland – but for the rest of the Six Nations only and not long term – and that has now been confirmed.
Official confirmation of New Zealander Gatland moving on came ahead of a Welsh Rugby Union in a press conference later on Tuesday afternoon.
Gatland’s second stint in the most important job in Welsh rugby has seen his team deliver the worst losing streak in the country’s history, with the latest reversal being a 22-15 round-two Six Nations at the hands of Italy in Rome last weekend. That game has proved to be his last.
Sherratt – who has worked with Wales on an assistant basis previously – will take charge for the remaining 2025 Six Nations games with Ireland, Scotland and England with WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood making the call.
Current Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith and Simon Easterby – in charge of Ireland for this Six Nations – are all of interest to the WRU hierarchy longer term, but none were able to take on the role for the rest of the Six Nations.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has left his role after overseeing 14 defeats in a row
Wales were beaten 22-15 by Italy on Saturday and that proved to be the final straw for Gatland
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt has been appointed in Gatland’s place for the rest of Six Nations
Sherratt will likely be a popular appointment with the players given he has worked with many of them at Cardiff.
Wales’ demoralising defeat in Rome at the weekend came after Gatland’s side were thrashed 43-0 by France in Paris in the opening game of this year’s Six Nations.
Gatland won four Six Nations titles with Wales during his first stint in charge between 2007 to 2019, in a period that also saw his side reach two World Cup semi-finals.
The Kiwi, who coached the British & Irish Lions during their 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours, returned to the role when he replaced Wayne Pivac in December 2022.
However, he was unable to have a positive impact on the side, with Gatland overseeing just six victories and 20 defeats across 26 Tests, while Wales have also slumped to 12th in the world rankings in the process.
His departure comes after former England head coach and Mail Sport columnist Sir Clive Woodward insisted that Gatland’s ‘time is up’ following the Italy defeat.
‘There comes a moment as an international coach when you know you can do no more and that your time is up,’ Woodward said.
‘Gatland has reached that moment with Wales. And I think deep down, he will acknowledge that to be the case.
‘Gatland is a truly great coach and his first spell with Wales was littered with trophies.
Gatland’s second stint with Wales has seen his team deliver their worst losing streak in history
The opening night of this year’s Six Nations had seen Wales be thrashed 43-0 by France
During his first stint in charge between 2007 to 2019, Gatland won four Six Nations titles
‘Gatland’s loyalty to Wales is evident in how he is sticking to the project. But he will know now it’s time for a fresh face and new voice to try and take the team forward at the end of this Six Nations.
‘There is a case too for there to be a coaching change now because Wales were even worse in their defeat by Italy than they were in their 43-0 hammering by France.’
After failing to win an international in 2024, Gatland survived a WRU review into his position at the turn of the year to stay in charge for the Six Nations.
Tierney, challenged Gatland to lead Wales back to more successful times this year, but that simply hasn’t happened.
