Caretaker coach Sherratt to lead Wales in Japan

Cardiff leader Matt Sherratt will resume arsenic Wales' interim caput coach for nan two-Test circuit of Japan successful July.

Wales are searching for a imperishable caput coach pursuing nan departure of Warren Gatland successful February.

That process is being led by caller head of rugby Dave Reddin but nan successor will not beryllium successful spot for nan summertime programme, pinch Sherratt again taking nan reins.

Sherratt will beryllium joined successful his backroom unit by his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum) and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas.

Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, who were portion of Warren Gatland's backroom staff, will not beryllium progressive successful Japan.

Wales are expected to adhd a kicking coach, pinch Leigh Halfpenny linked pinch nan domiciled Neil Jenkins has occupied.

Sherratt was put successful complaint of Wales aft conscionable 2 matches of nan 2025 Six Nations pursuing Gatland's departure but mislaid his 3 games astatine nan helm against Ireland, Scotland and past England - a grounds 68-14 conclusion successful Cardiff.

Jenkins will return to nan Wales defence coach domiciled he held nether Wayne Pivac earlier he was deemed surplus to requirements erstwhile Gatland returned successful December 2022.

"I'm delighted to person nan opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer," said Sherratt.

"It's an breathtaking imaginable to spell to Japan for 2 matches successful July. We are each looking guardant to getting into campy and starting preparations for our summertime campaign."

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) main executive Abi Tierney says nan governing assemblage is grateful to Sherratt taking complete nan reins.

"The effect and affirmative quality he made to nan squad successful a very short play of clip during nan Six Nations was welcomed," said Tierney.

"It was a reliable run but we cognize we are successful safe hands whilst we complete nan last stages of our recruitment process for a caller imperishable caput coach."

Former Wales full-back Halfpenny would beryllium progressive for nan first clip arsenic nan kicking coach.

The 36-year-old erstwhile British and Irish Lion has near Harlequins and is expected to proceed playing by joining French 2nd section broadside Beziers adjacent season.

Wales will look to extremity a grounds tally of successive 17 Test losses successful Japan, having not won an world since October 2023 successful a tally that includes 2 successive Six Nations Wooden Spoons.

Wales will play nan Test matches against Eddie Jones' Japan broadside successful Kitakyushu and Kobe aiming not to gaffe from their lowest ever position of 12th successful nan world rankings.

The first Test, astatine Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will return spot connected 5 July successful nan metropolis wherever Wales held their Rugby World Cup training campy successful 2019.

The 2nd Test will beryllium played astatine Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable tile – 7 days later.

Wales' men person won 13 of their 14 erstwhile meetings pinch Japan, pinch nan astir caller encounter, successful Cardiff successful 2016, ending successful a 33-30 triumph for nan location side.

Wales' only nonaccomplishment successful this fixture came successful nan summertime of 2013 erstwhile they mislaid 23-8 successful Tokyo.