Sherratt takes reins for Wales after Gatland's abrupt exit

Cardiff's Matt Sherratt has been handed the Wales coaching reins on an interim basis after Warren Gatland's second spell as head coach ended abruptly yesterday.

- Robert Kitson

Cardiff's Matt Sherratt has been handed the Wales coaching reins on an interim basis after Warren Gatland's second spell as head coach ended abruptly yesterday. Welsh supporters have been warned, however, there is "no magic bullet" that will instantly revive the national team after their dismal 22-15 defeat by Italy on Saturday.

Gatland has departed "by mutual agreement" after 14 successive Test defeats, the worst run in the country's 144-year international rugby history. Gatland, 61, had been contracted until the 2027 World Cup but Abi Tierney, the Welsh Rugby Union chief executive, acknowledged "there was a mounting sense that it wasn't working" and said the decision was "in the best interests of the Wales squad".

The Gloucester-born Sherratt, 47, worked previously for Worcester, Bristol and the Ospreys before taking over as Cardiff's head coach in 2023. He also had a brief stint with Wales in 2017 but has now been parachuted into Gatland's old role for their remaining three Six Nations fixtures.

While Tierney praised Sherratt's abilities as "a people person", she conceded Welsh rugby was at "a low ebb" after a grim 12 months. "It'll be hard to make changes in a short space of time. There's no magic bullet. If they can show hope and ambition, I'll be grateful to Matt."