Despite being awarded the wooden spoon in 2024, Wales coach Warren Gatland will remain in charge of the team as they look to rebuild ahead of Six Nations 2025.
Fans who have bought Six Nations tickets have mixed feelings.
Gatland Stay
Warren Gatland will continue as Wales manager for the 2025 Six Nations despite Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney admitting his job was in “crisis”.
Gatland, 61, has led what is statistically the worst team in Wales’ 143-year international rugby history, losing a record 12 consecutive Test matches.
At the time, fans with Six Nations tickets were angry.
Nigel Walker, managing director of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) rugby team, has resigned, but Gatland, who is under contract until the 2027 World Cup, will remain in the position for the time being.
Wales begin their Six Nations campaign against France in Paris on Friday January 31 before facing Italy eight days later.
After defeats against Fiji, Australia and South Africa in the autumn, the WRU announced that they would review their performance under Tierney.
Tierney presented the results of the review at this week’s WRU board meeting.
While Gatland remains in his place, the New Zealander has been warned there will be a further review of his performance after the tournament.
“I have had several candid conversations with Warren and will make no secret that his position is precarious while we conduct our review,” Tierney said.
“Furthermore, like any manager in any sport, he knows that his positional security is directly related to his team’s performance. This situation will continue to worsen.
“There are difficult challenges ahead, but Warren is ready to meet them. We also believe that he is his equal.”
Tierney said the WRU board considered more sweeping immediate changes but concluded that challenging Gatland to change Wales’ fortunes on the pitch was the best approach.
“We took a detailed assessment of the planning and preparation, the enabling and controllable factors that are the coach’s responsibility, the culture of the camp, the mental toughness of the players, their experience to date and their sincere thoughts on the direction of travel. For the team,” Tierney said.
“We have included expertise and opinions from a variety of reputable and knowledgeable sources, and we have seen what many experts and fans have expressed that we are currently not living up to our potential.”
second worry
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Gatland spent 12 years as Wales coach before leaving after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
But since taking charge for the second time in December 2022, when he replaced teammate Wayne Pivac, Gatland has taken 6 wins and 18 losses in 24 Tests, a winning percentage of just 25 per cent.
Gatland has only one win in the 2023 Six Nations, but the former British and Irish Lions coach has reinvigorated the Wales squad to reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
Wales’ last Test victory came against Georgia in the World Cup group stage in October 2023, while Argentina beat Wales in the last eight of the tournament.
In 2024, Wales finished bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 21 years and lost 11 games overall. It was the first time the Welsh men’s team had not won an international title in a year since 1937.
Wales have fallen to 11th in the World Rugby rankings as Gatland takes the lead in their preparations for the 2019 World Cup.
“I was honest in that I welcomed scrutiny and challenge. I also understand the pressure of performance and results in international rugby,” Gatland said.
“We are delighted to be taking the team to the Six Nations with the support of Abi and the Board.
“This group of players has enormous potential and we will work incredibly hard together to change our fortunes on the pitch.
“We know more than ever that we will be judged on our competitiveness, success and wins during the 2025 campaign.”
Some of the review’s key recommendations will now be implemented, including considering changes to Gatland’s backroom staff before the start of the Six Nations.
Tierney will also review the WRU’s high-performance structure and make any necessary changes following Walker’s resignation.
Huw Bevan, currently interim head of performance and community director Geraint John, will take on Walker’s short-term executive role in the short term. A new professional rugby coach will be hired in 2025.
A new high-performance advisory group, including former senior players, has also been appointed and is scheduled to be formed and run in 2025.
The panel will also be an integral part of long-term changes to the WRU’s high-performance structure, designed to directly benefit the women’s high-performance game.
Other changes planned ahead of the 2025 Men’s Six Nations include improved mentoring support for players and the recruitment of new mental skills resources.
England full-back George Furbak in doubt for Six Nations
Full-back George Furbank is a doubt for the start of England’s Six Nations campaign after fracturing his arm in Northampton’s Champions Cup win over the Bulls on Saturday.
The 28-year-old was sent off for a tackle on Bulls skipper Eli Rowe 29 minutes into the Saints’ 30-21 win.
Furbank was evaluated Tuesday and may require surgery.
“He broke his arm. We don’t know specifically how long it will take as it will depend on the situation,” Northampton manager Sam Vesty said.
“I’m not 100% sure what the results of the medical evaluation will be.”
Establishing an accurate estimate of Furbank’s revenue is complicated by the fact that recovery times vary depending on the type of fracture and patient.
But with just six-and-a-half weeks until England’s Six Nations opener away to defending champions Ireland on February 1, a key part of England’s back division could miss out on the first round.
Furbank replaced Freddie Steward midway through the 2024 Six Nations, starting three of England’s four autumn internationals.
Six Nations tickets are now available for purchase.
