Wales raid Harlequins to assemble coaching team for Japan tour

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt will take charge of Wales again for their tour of Japan in July.

Sherratt was handed the reins of the national team for the final three rounds of the Guinness Six Nations this year, and though he has since distanced himself from taking on the job, he’s returned on an interim basis.

Sherratt will again be joined by Harlequins scrum coach Adam Jones and Gloucester forwards transition coach T. Rhys Thomas. Gethin Jenkins will become the third former Wales front-row in the coaching team, who also works under Sherratt at Cardiff as defence coach.

Jones’ Harlequins head coach is the final member of Sherratt’s squad that will shepherd the team for two Tests against Eddie Jones’ Japan in July.

Fixture

Internationals

Japan

24 - 19

Full-time

Wales

All Stats and Data

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer,” Sherratt said, “It’s an exciting prospect to go to Japan for two matches in July.

“Thank you to Cardiff for permitting Gethin and I to take up this opportunity. Thank you also to Harlequins and Gloucester for allowing Danny, Adam and TR to join the coaching team for these two fixtures.

“We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign.”

WRU chief Abi Tierney added: “We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men’s side, on an interim basis for the Japan tour.

“The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. It was a tough campaign but we know we are in safe hands whilst we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.

“Thanks also to both Adam Jones and TR Thomas who will reprise their roles in Matt’s backroom team and to Gethin Jenkins and Danny Wilson who have also answered our call to help build the right team around him for this tour.”