Wales head coach Warren Gatland. (Image: Getty)
It would reportedly cost the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) £2million to sack Warren Gatland during the .
The future of Gatland as the head coach of will be on the agenda at a WRU board meeting this Wednesday.
Despite a disappointing 2024, in which Wales failed to secure a single Test match victory, the WRU board decided to give Gatland another chance to revive the team’s fortunes in the Six Nations before conducting another review at the end of the Championship.
Even the most optimistic Wales supporter would not have anticipated much from their trip to Paris, but last weekend’s match against Italy in Rome was seen as crucial for Gatland.
Regrettably, Wales suffered a 22-15 defeat and it would be a significant surprise if they managed to win any of their remaining three matches against Ireland, Scotland, and England.
And parting ways with Gatland during the competition would cost £2m according to the , with the boss under contract on a deal worth £600,000-a-year. The compensation would drop to six months of his salary after the Six Nations.
Although Wednesday’s WRU board meeting is a regular event, discussions about Gatland’s immediate future are inevitable. According to , there is a break clause in Gatland’s contract that could be activated this summer.
However, if the WRU were to dismiss Gatland before the summer, it could cost them around £2m. CEO Abi Tierney has previously stated that any break clause was not a factor in considerations about Gatland’s future.
The crucial question is whether replacing Gatland as head coach in the middle of the Six Nations and appointing an interim coach would boost performance.
If the WRU believes it could, one possible solution might be to place Gatland on gardening leave and elevate one of his assistants or draft in a regional coach until the end of the Championship.
Before the Six Nations, the WRU expressed confidence in Gatland’s ability to turn things around. However, a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match losses cannot be overlooked by those in charge.
Equally concerning is the absence of any noticeable improvement in performance over the past year.
There are also significant financial implications associated with finishing last in the Six Nations for the second year running due to increased prize money for higher-placed teams. While Gatland’s previous achievements deserve recognition, it’s hard to envision a comeback for the former British and Irish Lions coach.
There’s also the chance that Gatland may choose to step down due to the intense criticism he has faced from former players, journalists, and fans on social media. These possibilities will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion at this week’s board meeting.
However, one thing seems almost certain: Gatland’s tenure as Wales’ coach is likely nearing its end.
This article first appeared on .