A fresh breeze has stirred Welsh rugby this week, particularly at their Vale of Glamorgan training base.
With the sudden departure of Warren Gatland as the national team’s head coach, one of the top contenders for his successor took the chance to make his intentions known.
Franco Smith, the Glasgow head coach, offered a hopeful message about the state of Welsh rugby, signaling that it might not be too late for the team to find its way forward.
A New Interim Appointment
In the wake of Gatland’s exit, Wales has quickly moved on to prepare for their upcoming Six Nations match against Ireland in Cardiff.
Matt Sherratt, currently the head coach of Cardiff, has stepped in to lead Wales for the remainder of the 2025 Championship.
However, his role is temporary, and the search for a long-term coach is already underway.
Franco Smith’s Clear Intentions
Franco Smith, the head coach of Glasgow Warriors, has long been mentioned as a potential candidate for the job.
After his team’s victory over the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship, Smith made some revealing comments.
“I want to coach internationally again,” he said, emphasizing that despite Wales’ struggles, there are still positives to work with.
His words are bound to have caught the attention of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) decision-makers.
Having coached internationally with both South Africa and Italy, Smith has earned a reputation for his ability to develop teams.
Under his leadership, Glasgow won the URC title last season, raising his profile even further.
In addition to his connection to Wales, Smith is also reportedly in the running to become the next Scotland head coach, as Gregor Townsend’s contract is up in 2026.
A History of Turning Teams Around
Smith’s experience with rebuilding teams makes him an appealing option for Wales, especially at a time when the Welsh national team is struggling.
He reflected on his time with Italy and how he helped lift the Benetton and Cheetahs teams to new heights.
“Wales has a lot of passion for the game,” Smith noted, urging the team to adopt a positive mindset moving forward.
His approach could be just what Welsh rugby needs to find its footing again.
WRU Begins Its Search for a New Coach
As the WRU looks for a permanent successor to Gatland, Wales’ immediate focus is the looming Six Nations match against Ireland.
For now, Matt Sherratt is holding down the fort.
He has already added T Rhys Thomas, formerly of Gloucester, to his coaching staff as a forwards skills coach.
Despite the sudden changes, the coaching staff remains stable, with Mike Forshaw, Jonathan Humphreys, Neil Jenkins, and Adam Jones staying on.
Interim Coaching Arrangements
With the absence of Gatland and assistant Rob Howley, Sherratt is now fully in charge of the national team.
Although Howley has stepped away from the senior role, he will continue to support Wales’ Under-20 side.
Sherratt has just four training sessions to prepare for the Ireland match, and he plans to announce his matchday 23 on Tuesday.
Potential Changes to the Squad
Ahead of the weekend’s game, some players are set to make a return.
Gloucester’s Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, as well as Harlequins’ Jarrod Evans, were all called up by Sherratt after initially being overlooked by Gatland.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s preparations have been affected by a key injury to captain Caelan Doris, who will miss the game due to a knee issue.
This opens the door for Jack Conan to take his place at the back of the scrum.
Additionally, Dan Sheehan is expected to start at hooker with Ronan Kelleher sidelined by a neck problem.
Looking Ahead
With changes happening swiftly on both sides, Saturday’s Six Nations clash between Wales and Ireland promises to be an intriguing encounter.
As Wales transitions under new leadership, all eyes will be on how the team responds to the challenges ahead.
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