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| Warren Gatland has been head coach of Wales for 149 matches Source: BBC/Photo Huw Evans Picture Agency |
On Friday 31st January 2025 France starts The Six Nations 2025 season kicking off against Wales. In the meantime Wales' head coach Warren Gatland awaits news of his fate with his customary humility.
Questioned after a record 11th successive Test match defeat he said he agreed "whatever the best decision is for Welsh rugby".
Wales has had a disappointing run of results as have other teams over the years but let us put it into proprtion.
Country populations published for the 2023 World Cup showed Wales with a population of only 3 million compared with England's 57 million, Ireland's 7.2 million and Scotland's 5.5 million. Italy was 61 million, France 68.5 million and Japan a whopping 123.7 million.
When it comes to most registerd players France leads with over half a million compared with Wales' 83,120 registered rugby players. South Africa has the second highest number with 405,438 while England is third with 382,154 registrations. New Zealand comes 4th after Australia. Ireland is tenth and Scotland 15th.
Wales have punched well above their weight over the years and, like Scotland and Ireland, will do again.
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) bosses have been reviewing the outcome of the autumn series and will determine if Warren Gatland will be in charge for next year's Six Nations season.
The Review should be completed before Christmas. Hopefully it will be a happy one for a coach who has given so much to Welsh rugby.
Postscript 20.12.2024
Warren Gatland will remain as Wales' head coach for the 2025 Six Nations
A gem candidate for Lambeth I would have thought and unlike Eddie Waring of yore I've never heard him mention the "up and under" so favoured by certain clergy either.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the WRU don't appoint Welby, the chocolate teapot or the Grand Mufti of all the Faiths to oversee Mr Gatland, we should be fine.
ReplyDelete