- Wales were beaten 22-15 by Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday afternoon
- That defeat was their 14th in a row during a torrid run under Warren Gatland
- Gatland, who hails from New Zealand, is now set to depart his role as head coach
Warren Gatland is set to depart his role as Wales head coach with immediate effect after a run of 14 consecutive international defeats.
Official confirmation of the New Zealander moving on is likely to come from the Welsh Rugby Union in a press conference later on Tuesday afternoon.
Gatland’s second stint in the most important job in Welsh rugby has seen his team deliver the worst losing streak in the country’s history, with the latest reversal being a 22-15 round-two Six Nations defeat at the hands of Italy in Rome at the weekend.
Mail Sport understands that on the back of that Stadio Olimpico game, Gatland and the WRU will now part ways mid-Championship.
It means WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood will now have to find a new coach for the remaining 2025 Six Nations games with Ireland, Scotland and England.
Current Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith and Simon Easterby – in charge of Ireland for this Six Nations – are all of interest to the WRU hierarchy longer term, but none will be able to take on the role for the rest of the Six Nations.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is set to leave his role following 14 defeats in a row
Wales were beaten 22-15 by Italy on Saturday and that proved to be the final straw for Gatland
Gatland’s second stint with Wales has seen his team deliver their worst losing streak in history
Wales’ demoralising defeat in Rome at the weekend came after Gatland’s side were thrashed 43-0 by France in Paris in the opening game of this year’s Six Nations.
Gatland won four Six Nations titles with Wales during his first stint in charge between 2007 to 2019, in a period that also saw his side reach two World Cup semi-finals.
The Kiwi, who coached the British & Irish Lions during their 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours, returned to the role when he replaced Wayne Pivac in December 2022.
However, he was unable to have a positive impact on the side, with Gatland overseeing just six victories and 20 defeats across 26 Tests, while Wales have also slumped to 12th in the world rankings in the process.
His departure comes after former England head coach and Mail Sport columnist Sir Clive Woodward insisted that Gatland’s ‘time is up’ following the Italy defeat.
‘There comes a moment as an international coach when you know you can do no more and that your time is up,’ Woodward said.
‘Gatland has reached that moment with Wales. And I think deep down, he will acknowledge that to be the case.
‘Gatland is a truly great coach and his first spell with Wales was littered with trophies.
The opening night of this year’s Six Nations had seen Wales be thrashed 43-0 by France
During his first stint in charge between 2007 to 2019, Gatland won four Six Nations titles
‘Gatland’s loyalty to Wales is evident in how he is sticking to the project. But he will know now it’s time for a fresh face and new voice to try and take the team forward at the end of this Six Nations.
‘There is a case too for there to be a coaching change now because Wales were even worse in their defeat by Italy than they were in their 43-0 hammering by France.’
After failing to win an international in 2024, Gatland survived a WRU review into his position at the turn of the year to stay in charge for the Six Nations.
Abi Tierney, the WRU chief executive, challenged Gatland to lead Wales back to more successful times this year. But that simply hasn’t happened.
