Jones emerges as a contender for vacant Cardiff coaching job

FORMER Wales attack coach Stephen Jones is a contender to replace Matt Sherratt as Cardiff head coach.

- BEN JAMES Sports Writer

The 47-year-old has been working in New Zealand for the past couple of seasons with Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika, having joined as an assistant on a two-year deal back in January 2024.

That marked his first coaching job since leaving Wales’ coaching team following the return of Warren Gatland in 2022.

The Welsh Rugby Union announced on Monday that Sherratt, who had served as interim head coach for the national team in recent campaigns, would join Steve Tandy's coaching team as attack coach with immediate effect.

The news comes as a blow for Cardiff, just days before the start of their United Rugby Championship campaign.

The Blue and Blacks welcome the Lions to the Arms Park this Saturday, with forwards coach Corniel van Zyl, Gethin Jenkins (defence) Jonny Goodridge (skills) and Scott Andrews (scrum) announced as the club's coaching team in the interim.

Players were told of Sherratt’s departure on Monday morning, after a team meeting was moved to the start of the day.

It’s understood that they were informed that van Zyl would be in charge in the immediate future, with no timeframe offered on when a new head coach would be appointed.