**Wales Rugby Facing Uncertainty as Summer Tour Nears, with No Head Coach Appointed**
Just over two months remain before Wales embark on their highly anticipated summer tour of Japan, yet the national rugby setup finds itself clouded in uncertainty. With no permanent successor to Warren Gatland named, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is battling against the clock, hoping to settle its coaching ranks ahead of two major Test matches in July.
For now, hopes that a new full-time coach would be in place for the tour are quickly fading. The search, spearheaded by recently-appointed director of rugby Dave Reddin, has not yielded a clear favourite, even though Steve Tandy was tipped by many as the frontrunner. Instead, Reddin has stated that a “double-digit” shortlist remains under consideration, leaving the prospect of an interim arrangement looking ever more likely.
This limbo for the national side means speculation continues to swirl about who might oversee the Welsh team in the Far East. Matt Sherratt, who stepped in as interim head coach during the recent Six Nations campaign, appears a logical choice for such a role again. Sherratt, currently the Cardiff RFC head coach, has experience managing rugby operations in times of flux. There are also whispers that Danny Wilson, now with Harlequins and a former Arms Park colleague of Sherratt, could play a supporting role for Wales this summer.
Despite these names circulating, it is understood that neither candidate has been formally approached by the WRU at this stage. For his part, Sherratt has been open about the lack of contact from Welsh rugby’s hierarchy, emphasising as recently as last week that no discussions had taken place. Yet, given his swift appointment ahead of the Six Nations—answering one call on a Monday evening and being unveiled as interim coach by Tuesday—it’s not out of the question that he could be rushed into a similar scenario.
Timing, however, remains a crucial issue. Beyond head coach, there are a number of assistant coaches whose contracts are due to expire this summer. The WRU’s stated approach is to secure their head coach first and then hold talks with both the appointee and Dave Reddin regarding the future of the existing backroom team. This means the futures of defence coach Mike Forshaw, forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys, and Rob Howley—Gatland’s long-term right-hand man—are all up in the air. Rob Howley’s unique dual role, working with both the senior team and the player pathway, adds another layer of complexity.
The risk is that the WRU may find themselves short on time, unable to assemble an entirely fresh coaching staff—or at the very least, an experienced interim group—before the squad is due to depart. The ever-tightening schedule, exacerbated by Wales’ professional clubs being engaged in South African fixtures for the next fortnight, means every day without an appointment reduces the window for preparation.
Another factor inevitably impacted is squad selection. Last summer, the squad was announced in early June, with the team subsequently playing South Africa before heading on to Australia. This year’s timeline remains unclear, not least because of the coaching vacancy and logistical challenges with Welsh regions abroad.
The two Tests against Eddie Jones’ Japan, set for Kitakyushu and Kobe in July, loom large on the calendar. Wales approach these fixtures desperate to snap a dispiriting run of defeats at Test level, but must first address their off-field disarray. Even matters such as travel arrangements have attracted attention. An initial WRU plan to have players fly economy—a cost-cutting measure—was reportedly reversed after intervention from the professional clubs, who stressed that representing Wales requires elite-level preparation and standards.
As things stand, the Wales national team finds itself in an unusual state of limbo at a crucial juncture. While players focus on club duties in South Africa, supporters and pundits alike can only wait and watch, hoping that Welsh rugby’s governing body can steer a course through the uncertainty and provide the leadership and stability required ahead of a vital touring series in Japan. The coming weeks will be critical—not just for finalising preparations, but for setting a tone for the future of Welsh rugby.