Fresh hope as a Welshman – unusually – takes on one of the biggest jobs in Wales

SUNDAY will mark the first time in eight years Wales have played a Test match with a Welshman at the helm.

- STEFFAN THOMAS Rugby Correspondent

Warren Gatland

For much of the professional era the Welsh Rugby Union has found comfort in looking to the Southern Hemisphere for a head coach.

Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Pivac and Warren Gatland are all New Zealanders who have taken on one of the most challenging jobs in world rugby.

Henry was billed as the Great Redeemer, Hansen endured a torrid time results-wise but arguably laid the foundations for a more prosperous future.

Gatland led Wales through its most successful era since the halcyon days of the 1970s, while Pivac (pictured, below) was the last man to win silverware in 2021 before being relieved of his duties after a disastrous home defeat to Georgia.

But now the WRU has seen fit to finally trust a Welshman in one of the highest-profile roles in Welsh society.

Robin McBryde was technically the last Welshman to take on the role of head coach on the summer tour of the Pacific Islands in 2017 while Gatland was on British and Irish Lions duty in New Zealand.

Rob Howley also held the role on an interim basis on two occasions - famously guiding Wales to a Six Nations title with a legendary annihilation of England in 2013.

But the last time a Welshman took on the role on a permanent basis was back in 2007, when Gareth Jenkins was at the helm.

Things didn’t end well for Jenkins who was sacked by former WRU supremo Roger Lewis in a car park in Nantes following the 2007 World Cup pool stage exit after slipping to defeat at the hands of Fiji.

Mike Ruddock came before Jenkins and while it didn’t end well for him either, he led his country to a first Six Nations Grand Slam in 27 years back in 2005.

But now, after years of Kiwi rule, a man from Ton-mawr is in charge.