By Rob Cole
Wales have already drawn up a shortlist of three men to take over from Warren Gatland as head coach when he leaves after the 2019 World Cup.
Gatland, who has been Wales boss since 2008, will leave his adopted home after the tournament in Japan and Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies told delegates at the AGM that a global search for his replacement is already well underway.
Eight men from across the world have been interviewed for the position, with WRU bosses narrowing those applicants to just three in recent weeks.
“We have got a target of announcing the new Wales head coach by the summer of 2018,” said Davies.
“We have been very busy boys over the last six months talking to various people and we are making progress on that. We have caught up with various people when we’ve had the chance to do so.”
The question is, who were the eight targets and which three have survived to make the short-list? You would have to assume that current Wales backs coach Rob Howley, who has served as Gatland’s assistant for the past decade, is likely to have been one of the eight, while current Wasps director of rugby Dai Young is bound to have been in the frame.
But who else could they have talked to at this stage? Davies was in New Zealand with the Welsh team and the British & Irish Lions during the summer, so that would have given him the chance to meet any potential Kiwi targets.
Of all the New Zealand coaches who might be interested in taking over from Gatland, there is one who stands head and shoulders above all others and that is All Blacks boss Steve Hansen. Yes, you know, the man who used to coach Wales.
He is definitely available after the World Cup in 2019, when his contract with the New Zealand Rugby union runs out, and he’ll only be 60. He loved his previous time in Wales and could do a great job in adding new impetus to the Welsh squad, especially in a director of rugby role with the likes of Young and Stephen Jones under him.
Gatland, who led the Lions to a 1-1 series draw with the All Blacks in the summer, is set to return to his native New Zealand after he’s led Wales at a third World Cup. In his time in charge he has led Wales to two Grand Slams and a semi-final appearance at the 2011 World Cup.
He is currently preparing for Wales’ November Tests with Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa, but the WRU are already looking much further ahead.
“Warren hasn’t been involved in the interview process so far, but we will want to use him in the business moving forward in terms of who gets the job,” added Davies.
