Warren Gatland remains as the Wales coach after review of winless year
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Warren Gatland stays as the Wales coach for the 2025 Six Nations following a review into his team’s failure to win a rugby test all year.
However, Welsh Rugby Union executive director of rugby Nigel Walker resigned on Friday as a result of the review.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney considered “wholesale immediate change” in her review but decided that challenging Gatland to “change Wales’ fortunes on the pitch was the best approach at this time,” a union statement said on Friday.
Gatland was warned, though, that he must start producing wins.
Wales is on a record 12-test losing run since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. It lost all 11 tests in 2024, going winless in a calendar year for the first time since 1937.
“I’ve had a number of very honest conversations with Warren and I will make no secret of the fact that his position was on the line as we undertook our review,” Tierney said.
“Like any head coach in any sport, he knows the security of his position is directly related to the performances of the team and that this is a situation that will continue to intensify.
“There is a tough challenge ahead but Warren is more than up for that challenge. We also believe he is equal to it.”
Tierney’s review also concluded, “We are not performing to our potential.”
Help players’ mental skills
The WRU intends to give Gatland more help before the Six Nations “with the ambition of improving mindset, mentality and culture within the squad,” and improving players’ mentoring support.
It also wants to quickly set up a new high-performance advisory panel including former players and coaches and possibly others from different sports. The WRU wants the panel to oversee long-term changes to its high-performance structure, including the women’s game, in which a new national women’s coach is being sought.
“During the review I had the opportunity to explain my thinking,” Gatland said in the statement, “but I also appreciate the feedback and constructive challenge that has been put to me. I’d like to thank the players in particular for their involvement and their honesty.”
He will be reviewed again after the Six Nations, where Wales has a difficult schedule. It starts with France in Paris on Jan. 31, followed by another trip to Italy. Its first home game is against defending champion Ireland, followed by a visit to Scotland, and ending with a home game against England.
Nigel Walker resigns
Walker, a former Wales winger, joined the WRU in 2021 as the performance director and introduced the first pro contracts for Wales women. As the interim CEO, he helped to avert a strike by the Wales men before the 2023 Six Nations. Lately, he’s been working on improving the men’s pathway from the community game.
“Welsh rugby will prosper again,” Walker said. “It will do so because of the strength, passion and good nature of the people who work at the WRU and the nation which supports our national game, but I am pleased to have had an opportunity to contribute.”
