By Gareth James
Warren Gatland has overseen a “disappointing” year according to the Welsh Rugby Union officials who will now decide whether the Wales coach remains in place.
The Union is now set to undertake a comprehensive review of Gatland’s position – and that of the national team set-up more broadly – after an unprecedented period of poor results.
The weekend’s demoralising 45-12 defeat against reigning world champions South Africa, capped off a dismal calendar year in 2024 without a single victory.
It marks the first time since 1937 that Wales have gone a full year without a win. The 12th consecutive defeat also made it the worst losing streak in the nation’s rugby history.
“It’s clearly disappointing. It’s not what the Welsh public expects. It’s not what we expect either,” said WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood, reflecting on the team’s steep decline at the WRU annual general meeting on Sunday.
Bloody hell. I just saw Abi Tierney on screen. I assumed she’d emigrated. She has been absolutely invisible since she took the @WelshRugbyUnion job. She seemed to be enjoying herself, so that’s one positive, I suppose.
— Mike Bubbins (@MikeBubbins) November 23, 2024
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney is leading the review, which will evaluate the team’s overall performance, including the contributions of Gatland and his coaching staff.
Independent opinions, including those of former Welsh players, will also be sought during the process.
“We’re looking at everything,” said Tierney.
“We’ll be examining what’s needed to move Wales forward. If it becomes evident that changes are required, we’ll explore all options.”
Despite the bleak results, Gatland’s future remains uncertain. Both Tierney and Collier-Keywood indicated they are open to making changes if the review, set to conclude by December 17, recommends doing so.
Collier-Keywood reiterated that Gatland would be part of the review process and could potentially transition to a director of rugby role if deemed necessary.
“The Welsh public would expect us to do a review,” Collier-Keywood said. “It’s important we own the performance collectively rather than place all the blame on one individual.”
A strong contender for understatement of the sporting year, always a ridiculously congested category: WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood in response to Wales losing an unprecedented 12 Tests in a row: ”It’s clearly disappointing.”
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) November 24, 2024
Wales’ struggles have been exacerbated by the loss of experienced players and a reliance on a youthful squad.
Flanker James Botham was one of the few bright spots during the Autumn Nations Series, scoring one of Wales’ two tries against the Springboks. Botham firmly backed Gatland when asked if he remains the right man to lead Wales.
“Of course. Look at what he’s achieved in the past,” said Botham. “There’s no point in pointing fingers. He’s here, so of course he’s right for the job.”
The WRU acknowledged that removing Gatland before Christmas would mean appointing an interim head coach for the 2025 Six Nations.
But the Union officials stressed that the decision would not be constrained by financial concerns, dismissing claims that Gatland’s contract, which runs until the 2027 World Cup, would prevent the union from making a change.
“This isn’t about cost,” said Tierney. “If the review determines a change is the right move, we’ll work through that decision. Any action we take will prioritize what’s best for Welsh rugby.”
Statistically, 2024 has been the worst year in Wales’ 143-year rugby history. The team has plummeted to 11th in the world rankings, and Gatland’s record since returning for a second stint in charge stands at just six wins in 24 matches.
Collier-Keywood stressed the importance of balancing immediate and long-term solutions, saying, “Sometimes the journey is equally as important as the destination. There are no quick fixes here.”
Tierney added that the review would have happened regardless of recent results.
“We do reviews after every campaign, but this one requires more input due to the extraordinary circumstances. If quick fixes existed, they’d already be in place,” she said.
The WRU also revealed a £7.5 million financial loss for the year ending June 2024, though investments in the sport totaled £60.4 million. Despite these challenges, Collier-Keywood remained optimistic about the team’s future.
“While the results have been hard to swallow, we’re confident the players and coaching staff will have gained valuable lessons from this tough series,” he said.
“We’ve faced injuries and other hurdles, but we’re hopeful the squad will be stronger moving forward, whether Warren remains in charge or not.”
Jamie Roberts To Be Key Figure As Warren Gatland’s Wales Future Is Weighed Up
