Wales’ tour to Japan is two months away, but the current coaches have heard nothing from their bosses
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt is set to be named as Wales’ interim coach for the summer tour of Japan this week, with the current coaching team still in the dark about their own involvement on the tour.
Official confirmation is expected at some point this week from the Welsh Rugby Union, with Wales’ first Test in Japan now less than two months away. Sherratt took charge of Wales for the final three matches of this year’s Six Nations, following Warren Gatland’s departure mid-tournament after 14 consecutive Test defeats.
Sherratt’s appointment comes as little surprise, with the Blue and Blacks boss having been expected to reprise the temporary role from the Six Nations.
However, there still seems to be some confusion over who will form the rest of the coaching setup for Japan. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Harlequins coach Danny Wilson, who previously worked with Sherratt at Cardiff, is understood to be in the WRU’s sights for this tour, while Gloucester coach T. Rhys Thomas could be involved after Sherratt brought him into his coaching team during the Six Nations.
Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, who previously coached Wales’ defence under Wayne Pivac, has also been mentioned in dispatches – with Sherratt likely to turn to coaches he knows well as he prepares to take charge of an entire Wales campaign, rather than being parachuted in midway through.
It’s understood that Wales’ existing coaching team have not heard anything from their bosses in terms of Japan. In fact, there’s understood to have been a lack of contact from those above for a number of weeks.
As such, Rob Howley, Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw and Neil Jenkins are seemingly in the dark about whether they’ll be involved this summer.
Alex King left the coaching ticket prior to the Six Nations, as Gatland rejigged his staff following a review into the autumn campaign.
King is understood to be out of contract in the summer, while Forshaw admitted during the Six Nations that his current deal ran out in a matter of months.
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Regardless of that, the uncertainty around the Japan tour is unsettling for the incumbent coaches – with it seeming increasingly unlikely they will travel to Japan.
The WRU are understood to be waiting on the appointment of a new head coach before having conversations on the future of Gatland’s assistants.
However, with no white smoke yet to emerge from Westgate Street in terms of a permanent replacement for Gatland, the uncertainty seems set to rumble on.
Steve Tandy, despite the WRU’s insistence that that the shortlist is in double figures, is still understood to be the front-runner.
However, there is no indication an appointment is close yet.
