Wales keen to add Test centurion to Sherratt's summer coaching team

Wales’ coaching team for the summer tour to Japan is likely to have a strong Harlequins influence, especially if veteran full-back Leigh Halfpenny agrees to travel to the Far East as kicking coach.

Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt will be unveiled as head coach next week, Wales Online reports, continuing on form where he left off in the Six Nations after he was drafted in to replace Warren Gatland on an interim basis for the final three rounds.

Sherratt will be assisted by Harlequins pair – head coach Danny Wilson, who will look after the forwards, and Adam Jones (scrum), while his assistant at Cardiff, Gethin Jenkins, will take care of the defence. Rhys Thomas (skills), and if they can get the deal over the line, Halfpenny, will make up the coaching team.

Halfpenny’s one-year deal at Harlequins is coming to an end, so his playing future beyond the next few weeks has yet to be resolved. Last week, the 36-year-old was spotted at Beziers’ training ground and could be set to move to the ambitious Pro D2 outfit, so those negotiations may have an impact on his availability.

If the former Wales full-back was to turn down the opportunity to coach the country he served for 15 years, then Sherratt could ask long-serving kicking coach Neil Jenkins to continue.

Mike Forshaw and Jonathan Humphreys are not getting their contracts renewed, however, as Wales look to wipe the slate clean and end their record run of 17 straight Test defeats in a two-Test series that is not only important for morale but also Wales’ seeding for the 2027 World Cup draw, which will be held in either December or January.

Wales are currently ranked 12th, which currently puts them in the second band of seeds, but a continuation of the long losing run will see them drop into the third band and ultimately place them in a tougher pool, unless they can dramatically turn things around in the Autumn against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

Sherratt will be tasked with leading Wales this summer as Steve Tandy, the man lined up as Warren Gatland’s long-term successor, will still be involved with Scotland when Wales are in Japan in July.