Graham Rowntree head coach appointment confirmed

Ambitious Japan Rugby League One outfit Urayasu D-Rocks have confirmed the appointment of former Munster boss Graham Rowntree as their new head coach, replacing Greig Laidlaw.

RugbyPass exclusively revealed on Monday that former England and Lions prop Rowntree, who has been looking for another job after leaving Munster last October, was set to move to Japan to take over D-Rocks.

Former Scotland international Laidlaw, who was only in charge of D-Rocks for a season after Johan Ackermann stepped aside after leading them to promotion in 2024, has been appointed as their ‘Executive Club Ambassador.’

Warren Gatland, who stood down as Wales boss earlier in the year, had been heavily linked to the job, but it proved to be a red herring.

And ex-loosehead Rowntree, who was an early name linked with a return to his former club, Leicester Tigers, before they appointed Geoff Parling, will take control of D-Rocks from next season.

D Rock’s talented squad, which includes Jasper Wiese, Samu Kerevi, and Israel Folau, have signed locks Manaaki Selby-Rickit from the Chiefs and Crusaders ace Quinten Strange to bolster their ranks.

D-Rocks, based in Urayasu City, Chiba, are owned by telecom giant NTT, Inc., and they aim to see the club challenging for the championship by 2028. Rowntree has accepted the challenge of turning them into a force.

“I am very honoured to have the opportunity to lead such an ambitious and proud club. Japanese leagues are becoming more and more competitive every year,” said Rowntree, who led Munster to the United Championship title in his first season in charge in 2023.

“We look forward to building an environment that can change and adapt so that we can become more competitive.”