Franco Smith has given Wales plenty of encouragement he may now be open to taking over as the long term successor to former coach Warren Gatland.
Over the weekend, speculation grew over Smith’s next move following Glasgow Warriors’ URC semi-final exit.
The 52-year-old South African, who has led Glasgow through three impressive seasons — including a URC title in 2024 — now finds himself at a crossroads.
While Smith still has a year left on his contract, he stopped short of confirming he would remain with the Scottish club next season, prompting fresh rumours about a switch to the international stage.
Wales, still searching for a successor to Gatland, are currently being led on an interim basis by Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt for the summer tour of Japan.
But Smith, who previously coached Italy from 2019 to 2021, has openly expressed his desire to return to the Test arena.
“I need to reflect a little bit,” Smith said following Glasgow’s 37-19 defeat to Leinster in the URC semi-final.
“I can say I put my heart into this. That hasn't changed.”
Asked specifically about what lies ahead, he remained non-committal.
“We'll see. I was hoping we would be going to South Africa this week [for the URC final]. I'll sit down now and reflect a little bit. For now, I'm just proud of the season that's gone.”
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Smith’s name had also been linked to the Leicester Tigers role, but that vacancy was recently filled by Geoff Parling.
With that door now closed, the connection to Wales appears increasingly relevant, especially given Smith’s proven track record and interest in returning to international coaching.
However, staying in Glasgow might present its own challenges.
The club faces financial tightening, with Scottish Rugby shifting focus toward homegrown talent.
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Smith has expressed concern over shrinking resources and the potential impact on performance.
“Our squad's been reduced,” he noted. “We've lost some of the foreigners. I'll be as honest as possible: that's going to put a lot of pressure on every aspect of our environment.”
An announcement regarding a new defence coach — to replace Pete Murchie, who is heading to Japan — is expected soon.
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