Warren Gatland set to leave role as Wales rugby head coach

UK

Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales rugby head coach, Sky News and Sky Sports News understands.

The 61-year-old was in charge of the national team between 2007 and 2019, before he returned to the post in 2022.

Pressure had been growing on Gatland after Wales suffered a record string of defeats – 14 losses in a row.

The team had a disappointing autumn international series, including losing to Fiji at home for the first time.

The team were also awarded the wooden spoon in last year’s Six Nations championship for the first time since 2003, and are yet to win a game at this year’s tournament.

Wales failed to score in this year’s opening match, losing to France 43-0, before going onto lose to Italy 22-15 on Saturday.

Gatland returned to Welsh rugby after succeeding fellow New Zealander Wayne Pivac as Wales head coach.

He has previously served as head coach for three British and Irish Lions tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Speaking ahead of this year’s Six Nations tournament, Gatland said “write us off at your peril”.

“I said before the World Cup ‘write us off at your peril’, and I’ll say the same again now. We’ve got to build our confidence, both physical and mental, and prepare properly,” he added.

In December, Nigel Walker stepped down as the WRU’s executive director of rugby, and said it was “right” that he was “judged on performances on the pitch”.

He said “both of our senior teams have found the last 12 months extremely difficult and therefore I believe now is the right time for me to step down”.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is expected to confirm his departure from the role later today, Sky News and Sky Sports News understands.

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