Wales’ former head coach Warren Gatland has been reappointed for the 2023 season as Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) part ways with Wayne Pivac.
Warren Gatland : Wales head coach | England coach
Warren David Gatland is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player who is currently the head coach for the Wales national team.
| Birth name | Warren David Gatland |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 September 1963 |
| Place of birth | Hamilton, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb; 209 lb) |
As head coach of Wales from 2007 to 2019, he won four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams, and reached the semi-finals of the 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups.
Gatland was also head coach of the British & Irish Lions on three tours, to Australia in 2013, when they won the Test series 2–1; New Zealand in 2017, when the series was drawn; and South Africa in 2021, losing the series 2–1.
He has previously coached Connacht, Ireland, London Wasps, where he won three Premierships and the Heineken Cup, and Waikato, with whom he won the Air New Zealand Cup.
Warren Gatland wales head coach
Warren Gatland has agreed to a sensational comeback as head coach of Wales — ending any hope the RFU had of installing the Kiwi as caretaker after sacking Eddie Jones.
Gatland, who was at Super Rugby side Chiefs, is due to fly back to Cardiff from New Zealand to replace compatriot Wayne Pivac, who has been dismissed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) after a dismal year which included home defeats by Italy and Georgia.
Gatland’s primary focus is the 2023 World Cup but a long-term contract is on the table and the 59-year-old revealed he will have further discussions with the WRU in 10 months’ time, with a director of rugby role being one possibility.
‘I’m excited about it but there are pressures and risks. I’m confident that I can come in and make a difference, and get a side together who are prepared to die for that jersey.
‘Those are my expectations and I don’t expect anything less from the players in terms of what it means to play for Wales — the history, the expectation. The advantage I’ve got is I know the set-up and so many of the people involved. I think I can hit the ground running.’
It is a popular second coming for the man who led his adopted country to three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals.
Gatland, who left Wales in 2019 after 12 years of service, is believed to have agreed to return to the post on the condition that the WRU hold a major review of the game in Wales, with a view to implementing vital reforms.
England coach
On 9 November 2007, Gatland was named head coach of Wales, and took up his position on 1 December 2007.
Gatland’s first game as coach of Wales was in the opening week of the 2008 Six Nations Championship, which was a major upset as Wales beat England 26–19 after trailing 19–6 with nearly sixty minutes played. It was Wales’ first win at Twickenham since 1988.
After victories over Scotland and Italy, Wales went on to defeat the Triple Crown holders Ireland at Croke Park 16–12, thus winning the Triple Crown themselves. This was the first time Wales has held this trophy since 2005.
But in the final round of fixtures, Wales beat France at the Millennium Stadium 29–12, to clinch their 10th Grand Slam, 100 years after they won their first.
Despite being Six Nations Champions, Gatland led Wales to a 2–0 test series defeat to South Africa during the 2008 mid-year rugby union tests, losing 43–17 and 37–21.
Wales then went on to lose to South Africa at home during the 2008 Autumn internationals. Also Their Autumn campaign saw Wales win two, lose two – the two wins being a 34–13 win over Canada and a 21–18 win over Australia. This was Wales’ first win over the Wallabies since 2005.
But wales were unable to retain their Six Nations title in 2009, finishing fourth with just three wins; England, Italy and Scotland.
Due to his commitments to the British & Irish Lions, he was unable to coach Wales to their Summer tour of North America against Canada and the United States.