Warren Gatland to leave Wales head coach role amid disastrous Six Nations campaign

Warren Gatland has left his role as head coach of Wales’ rugby team in the middle of their disastrous Six Nations campaign. The 61-year-old leaves after his Wales side lost 43-0 to France and 22-15 to Italy in their first two matches. Wales have slumped to a record 14 successive Test match defeats under Gatland, in what is statistically the worst team in their 144-year history. Gatland was already set to leave Wales at the end of the Six Nations, despite being contracted until the Rugby World Cup in 2027, but has now departed less than halfway through the tournament.

The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed that Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt would lead the team for the final three matches of the Six Nations before they appoint a new permanent coach. ‘The WRU and Warren have agreed that making this change now is in the best interests of the Wales squad as it continues to compete in the 2025 Six Nations tournament,’ said Welsh Rugby Union CEO Abi Tierney. ‘We are grateful to Warren for all he has done for the game in Wales. He remains our longest-serving and most decorated head coach in terms of the silverware he has won.

‘Matt Sherratt takes over at a pivotal time. It is a credit to him that he has not hesitated to answer Wales’s call and is also testament to the strong relationship that now exists throughout the Welsh professional game that Cardiff Rugby are fully supportive of the move. ‘Matt will return to Cardiff Rugby after the Six Nations in order to concentrate his efforts on what is already a promising campaign for our capital club.

‘Our intention is to have a permanent appointment in place before this summer’s two-Test tour to Japan, with all options open.’. The 61-year-old returned for his second spell as Wales head coach in December 2022 having previously been in charge from 2007 to 2019. Gatland’s first stint in charge of Wales was hugely successful, with the New Zealander leading them to three Grand Slams in the Six Nations and a record run of 14 victories which took them to the top of the world rankings.

But his second spell has been the polar opposite with Wales winning just six of their 26 Test matches and falling down to 12th in the world. According to the BBC, there are three possible successors to replace Gatland, which includes Ireland’s current interim boss Simon Easterby. Glasgow Warriors’ South African head coach Franco Smith is thought to be another option along with former Australia head coach Michael Cheika.

Wales still have three fixtures remaining in this year’s Six Nations with matches coming up against Ireland, Scotland and England across February and March. Gatland’s departure comes after the former British and Irish Lions head coach came under increasing pressure and scrutiny over Wales’ poor run. The nation have failed to win a Test match since defeating Georgia in the pool stages of the 2023 World Cup. They didn’t record a single victory across 2024, the first time that’d happened in a calendar year since 1937.

In last year’s Six Nations, Wales finished bottom for the first time in 21 years. Wales suffered a record 20-52 home defeat to Australia in November 2024, with former captain Gwyn Jones claiming that Gatland had ‘checked out’. ‘I believe Warren Gatland has checked out,’ Jones said. ‘He is no longer invested in this job, in my opinion. I’m not sure he ever was second time around.’. Arrow MORE: Man severely beaten in homophobic attack for wearing rainbow watch strap.