Warren Gatland is about to go away his function as head coach of Wales with quick impact amid an appalling Six Nations and a report dropping streak.
Wales went the whole lot of 2024 with out profitable a single Take a look at match earlier than being thumped 43-0 by France in Paris to kick off the 2025 Six Nations after which being turned over 22-15 by Italy on the weekend in a sport that wasn’t as shut because the scoreline suggests to take their dropping streak to 14 video games.
That lead to Rome has set them on the right track for a second straight Six Nations picket spoon and Gatland is now set to fall on his sword, having been given a keep of execution following a evaluate by the Welsh Rugby Union after a dismal set of autumn worldwide outcomes.
The 61-year-old New Zealander had a massively success first spell accountable for Wales between 2007 and 2019, together with three grand slams however has struggled since returning to the function in 2022, with Welsh rugby as an entire in disaster. The likes of interim Eire head coach Simon Easterby, Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith and ex-Australia and Argentina coach Michael Cheika are among the many early names being touted as a alternative.
Comply with all the newest information surrounding Warren Gatland’s future:
Warren Gatland set to go away function as Wales coach – LIVE
Who will exchange Warren Gatland?
With the Welsh Rugby Union set to substantiate Gatland’s departure this afternoon, consideration is already turning to who may exchange him as head coach.
Initially there will likely be an interim coach till the tip of the Six Nations, presumably present assault coach Rob Howley who has crammed the function beforehand when Gatland was on sabbatical to arrange for British and Irish Lions obligation.
A brand new everlasting coach will probably be in place earlier than the two-Take a look at summer season tour to Japan and there are three most important names rising as early frontrunners.
The Eire defence coach is at the moment impressing as interim head coach of the lads in inexperienced with Andy Farrell on Lions sabbatical. Easterby is predicated in Wales having performed most of his profession with the Scarlets and being married to Welsh TV presenter Sarra Elgan.
His earlier foray into worldwide teaching with Italy was pretty uninspired as he delivered zero Six Nations wins over a few years earlier than being pushed upstairs right into a head of excessive efficiency function. Has performed beautifully as Glasgow Warriors coach since taking the function in 2022 although, main them to URC glory final season.
An skilled, globetrotting coach who has been accountable for Australia and Argentina on the worldwide stage, in addition to the likes of Leinster, Stade Francais, Waratahs and now Leicester Tigers at membership stage. He is because of step down as Tigers coach on the finish of the season and doesn’t at the moment have one other job lined up
Luke Baker11 February 2025 12:11
Abject Wales reignite previous Six Nations debate after falling to new low
Looking over a sorry, soggy scene in Rome, an ailing emperor surveyed a as soon as formidable empire now in smash. Warren Gatland and Wales had arrived within the Italian capital looking for the invigorating fountains of recent life; as an alternative, because the rain tumbled down, deeper into the quagmire they slumped.
This Welsh empty vessel now ploughs into one other regime change that many felt inevitable from the second Gatland as soon as extra took on an unenviable process. The top coach himself had sounded the alarms on the finish of his first tenure about how a golden technology had papered over the cracks obvious inside the sport within the nation, and that the success couldn’t be sustained. The cracks have change into chasms; Wales are falling into the abyss.
Defeat in spherical two drops them under Georgia to twelfth on the planet rankings; Samoa, who deserted their November tour amid monetary issues and critical allegations towards their head coach, sit not far behind.
Learn Harry Latham-Coyle’s full evaluation of the problems confronted by Wales:
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:55
What’s Warren Gatland’s report as Wales coach?
Gatland loved a massively profitable first spell as Wales head coach between 2007 and 2019 as he received three grand slams and an extra Six Nations title, in addition to reaching the semi-finals on the 2011 and 2019 World Cups.
However his second spell has been a distinct story…
They’ve endured a report 14 successive Take a look at match defeats and Gatland has misplaced 20 lack of his 26 Checks in cost since returning to the helm.
The 22-15 defeat to Italy on the weekend was an eighth Six Nations reversal in a row and the primary time Wales have suffered back-to-back defeats towards the Azzurri (having misplaced to them in Cardiff final yr).
In addition they slumped to a brand new world rating low of twelfth, with Georgia climbing above them following their Rugby Europe Championship victory over the Netherlands.
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/02/06/13/93168a90d186eb1deb7bfa2ff52229aaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM4OTMxODM1-2.78536245.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/02/06/13/93168a90d186eb1deb7bfa2ff52229aaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM4OTMxODM1-2.78536245.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w)
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:47
Wales going through one other winless Six Nations after dismal defeat to Italy
Having misplaced their Six Nations opener to France because of a 43-0 humbling in Paris, Wales entered the weekend’s conflict towards Italy in desperation mode – needing a victory to keep away from a seemingly inevitable fall to a second consecutive picket spoon.
As an alternative they had been blown away by the Azzurri as Ange Capuozzo scored a first-half try to there have been 5 penalties from the boot of Tommaso Allan.
A strive from Aaron Wainwright and a late penalty strive made the ultimate rating nearer than the match really was however the dropping streak continued.
Right here’s the total report from that conflict in Rome:
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:34
Wales on report dropping streak
The transfer for Gatland to exit doesn’t come as an enormous shock on condition that Wales are at the moment on a report 14-game dropping streak.
They haven’t received a Take a look at match since a 43-19 win over Georgia within the group stage of the 2023 World Cup in October of that yr.
They misplaced to Argentina to exit that match earlier than enduring a winless 2024 Six Nations, a fruitless summer season tour to Australia, defeats to Fiji, Australia and South Africa within the autumn and now losses to France and Italy to kick-start this Six Nations.
They’re in actual hassle and Gatland’s departure, which is about to be confirmed by the Welsh Rugby Union this afternoon, is an inevitable consequence.
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/02/08/16/42/GettyImages-2198360789.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/02/08/16/42/GettyImages-2198360789.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w)
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:22
Warren Gatland set to go away function as Wales coach
Welcome to The Unbiased’s stay protection as Warren Gatland is about to go away his function as head coach of Wales with quick impact.
Wales are within the midst of an appalling Six Nations and enduring a report dropping streak, which seems to have value Gatland his job.
Follow us for full stay protection.
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:10