Wales blood three new coaches in shake-up
WALES are in the throes of giving their under-fire coaching team its biggest shake-up of the professional era.
Alex King’s appointment for the Six Nations is only the start. After long periods without significant change since Warren Gatland’s appointment nine years ago, the WRU plan to give a trio of PRO12 coaches their first international assignment at the end of the season.
Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Steve Tandy (Ospreys) and Danny Wilson (Blues) have been asked to join acting head coach Robin McBryde and Shaun Edwards for the South Pacific series against Fiji, Tonga and Samoa next June. Wales want to do more than merely fill the vacancies created by the absence of Gatland and Rob Howley on Lions duty.
Chairman Gareth Davies, alarmed at his country’s failure to produce Test-class coaches, has made it a matter of priority.
“We have had two Welsh head coaches over almost 20 years,’’ he told The Rugby
Paper. “It has been neglected for too long Our priority now is coaching but it is not going to happen overnight.
“Those going on the Lions tour will benefit greatly from the experience. It also provides an opportunity for other coaches to come into the Test match environment and for us to widen our net.’’
King’s arrival in the New Year is a short-term deal with the former England stand-off due to join Montpellier next summer. Matt Sherratt, appointed attack coach by Howley for last month’s four Tests, has rejoined Cardiff Blues.
Jones would be the fourth attack coach used by Wales within the last 12 months. Attack is Howley’s specialist area and his decision to undertake that role for the Lions rather than stay with Wales raises a question over whether he wants to be considered as Gatland’s successor.
Since hiring Graham Henry in 1998, Wales have relied almost exclusively on New Zealand coaches. Only two Welshmen have been appointed in the last 18 years – Mike Ruddock in 2004-5 and Gareth Jenkins before his disgracefully instantaneous sacking after Fiji knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup.