Wales' potential new coaching team as two Welsh icons could reunite

The WRU are busy assembling a coaching team to take Wales forward

The Welsh Rugby Union has targeted Steve Tandy as Warren Gatland's long-term successor and will be holding talks with the Scotland defence coach over the coming weeks.

While a deal has not yet been agreed and nothing is set in stone Tandy will inevitably be asked what he wants his coaching team to look like, while the same will have been the case with the other coaches the WRU have spoken to throughout this entire process.

There are a handful of Welsh coaches who are strong contenders for a role in any new coaching team.

Matt Sherratt

The Cardiff coach would be a popular choice within the playing group while he also has an intimate knowledge of each players strength and weaknesses. Sherratt took over as head coach on an interim basis for the final three games of the Six Nations after the WRU had parted ways with Gatland.

In his first outing Wales delivered a significantly improved performance and pushed Ireland all the way before slipping to a narrow defeat. They got well-beaten in Scotland even though they launched an admirable comeback before getting annihilated by England in Cardiff which condemned Wales to back-to-back wooden spoon's.

But Wales' attack fired under Sherratt against Ireland and Scarlets while his Cardiff side are very creative with ball in hand. If a hard-nosed coach who prioritises defence like Tandy or Easterby was to get the job then adding Sherratt's innovation as an attack guru could be beneficial.

WalesOnline understands Sherratt is the front runner to take Wales to Japan as an interim head coach and if he was to be part of any new coaching team the fact the WRU now own Cardiff could make it easier to get him out of his contract. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

Sherratt has also previously worked with Tandy when he was at the Ospreys.

Danny Wilson

The 48-year-old is well-acquainted with Welsh rugby having previously coached Wales U20s, been in charge of the forwards at the Dragons and Scarlets while he also the main man at Cardiff. Wilson is heavily respected within Welsh rugby circles for the work he has done in the past while he was head coach when Cardiff won the Challenge Cup in 2018.

He is now head coach at English giants Harlequins and the WRU may need to pay compensation if they were to lure Wilson away from the Premiership. But there's every indication they are keen on the former hooker who is also in contention to join Sherratt on this summer's tour of Japan.

Wilson's wife is Welsh and he has spent much of his adult life in Wales so this job would no doubt appeal to the former Cardiff coach. He has a reputation as an outstanding forwards and set-piece coach with exceptional attention to detail.

Wilson has come under fire from Harlequins supporters while the pressure has intensified following last weekend's 43-29 defeat at home to Sale Sharks while they also suffered a humiliating 62-0 thrashing at Leinster in the Champions Cup round of 16.

But regardless of Harlequins' recent struggles Wilson is a top class forwards coach and Wales could do a lot worse if Gatland's replacement decides to part ways with Jonathan Humphreys.

Adam Jones

The Wales legend is one of the hottest coaching prospects around and nobody knows the scrum better than the affable Jones. Jones has done an outstanding job as scrum coach of Harlequins while he has recent experience of coaching Wales having spent the Six Nations there on secondment.

"Kyle Sinckler really went to another level in his game when working with Bomb at Harlequins," former Wales outside-half Dan Biggar wrote in his MailOnline column in January.

"'Without the mentorship of Adam, I would not have achieved the things I have and the goals I have set in the future,’ Kyle told me this week. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free

"'There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t use the knowledge he passed down to me, whether that be scrummaging, professionalism, referee management, or how to set the right example for others. The list goes on and on. I’ll forever be indebted and grateful to Bomb for the time we spent together'".

Jones is not only an outstanding technical coach but an excellent man manager who has a track record of developing young props. Given how badly Wales have struggled at tighthead prop over the past few years Jones' appointment should be a priority, but only only with the senior men's national team but working with the professional clubs and the pathway as well.

Duncan Jones

One insider close to the action told WalesOnline Tandy is keen on the idea of having former Wales prop Duncan Jones as part of his backroom team should he accept the WRU's offer. The 46-year-old is a senior coach at the Ospreys focusing on the forwards, especially the set-piece.

Jones is considered one of the best technical coaches in the Welsh game and hasn't had the recognition he deserves for the hard work he has put in to develop the likes of Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Gareth Thomas and Nicky Smith, among others.

The Ospreys have one of the best scrums in the United Rugby Championship and this is in part down to Jones who has been described as an outstanding technical coach.

Jones would certainly be an interesting and popular appointment if her were to reunite with his old Wales front tow partner Adam. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.