Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as head coach of Wales with immediate effect amid an appalling Six Nations and a record losing streak.
Wales went the entirety of 2024 without winning a single Test match before being thumped 43-0 by France in Paris to kick off the 2025 Six Nations and then being turned over 22-15 by Italy at the weekend in a game that wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggests to take their losing streak to 14 games.
That result in Rome has set them on course for a second straight Six Nations wooden spoon and Gatland is now set to fall on his sword, having been given a stay of execution following a review by the Welsh Rugby Union after a dismal set of autumn international results.
The 61-year-old New Zealander had a hugely success first spell in charge of Wales between 2007 and 2019, including three grand slams but has struggled since returning to the role in 2022, with Welsh rugby as a whole in crisis. The likes of interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby, Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith and ex-Australia and Argentina coach Michael Cheika are among the early names being touted as a replacement.
Follow all the latest news surrounding Warren Gatland’s future:
What is Warren Gatland’s record as Wales coach?
Gatland enjoyed a hugely successful first spell as Wales head coach between 2007 and 2019 as he won three grand slams and a further Six Nations title, as well as reaching the semi-finals at the 2011 and 2019 World Cups.
But his second spell has been a different story…
They have endured a record 14 successive Test match defeats and Gatland has lost 20 loss of his 26 Tests in charge since returning to the helm.
The 22-15 defeat to Italy at the weekend was an eighth Six Nations reversal in a row and the first time Wales have suffered back-to-back defeats against the Azzurri (having lost to them in Cardiff last year).
They also slumped to a new world ranking low of 12th, with Georgia climbing above them following their Rugby Europe Championship victory over the Netherlands.
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:47
Wales facing another winless Six Nations after dismal defeat to Italy
Having lost their Six Nations opener to France thanks to a 43-0 humbling in Paris, Wales entered the weekend’s clash against Italy in desperation mode – needing a victory to avoid a seemingly inevitable fall to a second consecutive wooden spoon.
Instead they were blown away by the Azzurri as Ange Capuozzo scored a first-half try and there were five penalties from the boot of Tommaso Allan.
A try from Aaron Wainwright and a late penalty try made the final score closer than the match actually was but the losing streak continued.
Here’s the full report from that clash in Rome:
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:34
Wales on record losing streak
The move for Gatland to exit doesn’t come as a huge shock given that Wales are currently on a record 14-game losing streak.
They haven’t won a Test match since a 43-19 win over Georgia in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup in October of that year.
They lost to Argentina to exit that tournament before enduring a winless 2024 Six Nations, a fruitless summer tour to Australia, defeats to Fiji, Australia and South Africa in the autumn and now losses to France and Italy to kick-start this Six Nations.
They are in real trouble and Gatland’s departure, which is set to be confirmed by the Welsh Rugby Union this afternoon, is an inevitable consequence.
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:22
Warren Gatland set to leave role as Wales coach
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as head coach of Wales with immediate effect.
Wales are in the midst of an appalling Six Nations and enduring a record losing streak, which appears to have cost Gatland his job.
Stick with us for full live coverage.
Luke Baker11 February 2025 11:10
