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Wales raid Harlequins to assemble coaching team for Japan tour
By Josh Raisey
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt will take charge of Wales again for their tour of Japan in July.
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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.
“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.”
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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.”
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The importance of this tour for Wales cannot be understated. They MUST win at least one of these two matches. If they fail to do so they will move to potentially 14th position and would have to beat both Japan and Argentina (or SA or NZ) in the Autumn Internationals to get back in top 12. Even if they win won they would need to win the return match v Japan to be somewhat sure of top 12.
Recall: if they are not in top 12 seeds by end of 2025 then they are in 3rd seedings group for the RWC draw with potential disastrous consequences for their chances in that tournament and potentially putting a few years onto their come back afterwards. Must win one of teh two matches in Japan. Eddie Jones will know the calculus (one would hope) and will be prepping his guys for this series.
Japan in 13th ranking position are just 0.44 ranking points behind Wales who are in 12th.
Great comment on the rankings.
Sherratt was handed a right mess in the 6N. He will have a bit of time now but still has little to work with. 2 gone with the Lions are a big loss as well.