**Warren Gatland Poised for Full-Time Return to Coaching Just Months After Wales Departure**
Veteran rugby coach Warren Gatland is reportedly on the brink of resuming his high-profile coaching career, just half a year after stepping down from his most recent role with the Welsh national side. The 61-year-old New Zealander is expected to take the reins at Urayasu D-Rocks, a club based in the top tier of Japan Rugby League One, according to various Japanese sports outlets.
Gatland’s departure from Wales came during the most recent Six Nations campaign, ending a second stint that unfortunately saw the Welsh side endure a worrying spell of 14 consecutive Test losses. Despite the disappointing run, Gatland remained bullish about his future prospects, making it clear he was not yet finished with coaching and expressing his enduring passion for the sport.
In the immediate aftermath of his resignation, Gatland briefly shifted his focus to South America, serving as an advisor to Uruguayan club Penarol. His guidance proved effective, helping the side claim victory in the Super Rugby Americas title earlier this June. This role seemed to keep Gatland firmly within rugby’s ever-evolving landscape and primed for a quick return to a full-time position.
Reports suggest that Urayasu D-Rocks are poised to officially unveil Gatland as their new head coach in the coming days. The club, situated in Chiba’s Urayasu City just outside Tokyo, has yet to release a formal statement but speculation is rife that Gatland will succeed Greig Laidlaw, the Scottish international who took up the coaching mantle in 2023 after concluding his playing stint with the team.
Laidlaw, once the youngest head coach in the league following the departure of former South African coach Johan Ackermann, oversaw a challenging season for the D-Rocks on their return to Division One. The side secured only three victories in 18 regular season matches, narrowly maintaining their top flight status with a play-off win to stave off relegation.
Taking over from Laidlaw, Gatland will bring decades of experience from both club and international rugby, having previously led the Chiefs in New Zealand before embarking on successive stints with Wales and the British & Irish Lions. Sources close to the Japanese club have indicated that Gatland was selected ahead of several international contenders, reportedly including former Springbok names.
Looking towards the new season, Gatland will have at his disposal an impressive roster featuring international stars such as Jasper Wiese of South Africa, as well as Australian talents Samu Kerevi and Israel Folau. These high-profile names highlight the growing investment and stature of Japanese club rugby, backed by significant corporate support.
A fascinating subplot to the upcoming campaign will see Gatland face off against his own son, Bryn Gatland, who currently plays for rivals Kobe Steelers. In recent comments, the elder Gatland praised the Japanese rugby infrastructure, describing the facilities and living arrangements as “fantastic” and a testament to the ambition driving the sport’s continued growth in the country.
“The facilities really are world-class, and the support offered to players is outstanding,” Gatland observed during a recent rugby podcast. It seems clear that the allure of Japanese rugby’s professional environment, coupled with a desire for new challenges, has drawn him back into full-time front-line coaching.
With the Japanese league scheduled to kick off its new season in December, rugby fans will be watching closely to see how Warren Gatland adapts to his new surroundings and whether he can transform the fortunes of Urayasu D-Rocks. For Gatland, the upcoming appointment represents not just a return to the coaching coalface, but a fresh chapter in a career already packed with twists and remarkable achievements.