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Warren Gatland confirms plan to remain as Wales coach until next World Cup
By Josh Raisey
Warren Gatland has confirmed his intention to remain as Wales head coach until the 2027 World Cup, saying he is "excited" about what the future holds for his team.
The New Zealander was reappointed as Wales coach in December last year following Wayne Pivac's dismissal and went on to guide Wales to the top of Pool C at the World Cup, beating Fiji, Portugal, Australia and Georgia along the way. However, after Wales' 29-17 loss to Argentina in the quarter-finals on Saturday at Marseille's Stade Velodrome, questions about his future were raised again due to a clause in his contract.
Gatland answered those questions wryly after the match, saying: "Yeah, absolutely, but if the union want to get rid of me, they are completely entitled to do that as well. That’s up to them."
In a press conference alongside Welsh Rugby Union chief Nigel Walker on Wednesday after arriving back in Wales, Gatland reiterated his intention to remain in charge of the team.
"Yes, that’s the plan," Gatland said when asked whether he will take Wales to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, as reported by WalesOnline.
"We've got to look at how we develop our young players like Sam Costelow and Taine Plumtree.
"When you look at the potential of what we’ve got it’s exciting. We can be really excited about what we can achieve over the next four years."
Gatland did hint at a change to his coaching staff following the World Cup, but whether that happens before Wales' fixture with the Barbarians in November, or even the Six Nations, is yet to be seen.
“It’s something we’ll talk about," he said. "Everyone is on different cycles.
"I’ll talk to Nigel and the union about how we go forward. I’ve seen a huge amount of growth in the staff from the Six Nations.
"That’s been extremely positive. The coaches are more comfortable in the pressure cooker environment."
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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