- Wales have announced their coaching team and playing squad for Japan tour
- The team are looking to end a run of 17 Test defeats against Eddie Jones’ side
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson will be a part of Wales’ coaching staff for the country’s summer tour of Japan alongside his club compatriot Adam Jones.
Wales, currently on a horror run of 17 Test defeats, do not have a permanent employee in charge of the team with that recruitment process ongoing.
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt will step in on an interim basis for the two July Tests with the Brave Blossoms who are now led by former England boss Eddie Jones.
Sherratt stepped in for Wales’ final three games of the Six Nations earlier this year after the departure of Warren Gatland and will do so again in the weeks to come.
Wilson and Jones will assist him as forwards and scrum coaches respectively on loan from Harlequins. Jones did the same role with Wales in the Six Nations.
Gethin Jenkins (defence) and TR Thomas (forwards assistant) will also head to the Far East as part of Sherratt’s staff.
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson will be a part of Wales’ summer tour party to Japan
Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt will continue as Wales interim coach after doing so in the Six Nations
Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, the forwards and defence coaches in the Six Nations, have not been offered new Wales deals and will move on.
New Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby Dave Reddin is leading the search for Wales’ next permanent head coach, but any appointment won’t be in place until the November Tests at the earliest.
It is understood that after being confirmed in his new role last month, Reddin has started the head coach recruitment process from scratch.
Wilson and Jones will both return to their roles at Harlequins for the start of the 2025/26 season, as will Sherratt and Jenkins with Cardiff and Thomas with Gloucester.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: ‘We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again 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.’
Captain Jac Morgan and first-choice scrum-half Tomos Williams were the only Welsh players selected for this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. They won’t travel to Japan as a result.
Wales captain Jac Morgan won’t be in Japan after being selected by the British & Irish Lions
Hooker Dewi Lake takes over as skipper of what looks a weak squad on paper.
Jones and Japan – only one place behind Wales in World Rugby’s rankings – will really fancy their chances of an upset.
Wales will be without key forwards Daf Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Henry Thomas. Exeter lock Jenkins will have elective surgery this summer, while his fellow second rows Rowlands and Montpellier-bound Beard are being rested. Without them, Wales’ party lacks size.
Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Jarrod Evans, Ellis Mee, Eddie James and James Botham – who were all involved in the Six Nations squad – are notable omissions for Japan due to a combination of injury, moves abroad and non-selection.
There are six uncapped players in Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman, Keelan Giles, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Garyn Phillips and Macs Page.
Wilson is a former Cardiff and Wales Under-20 head coach. He said: ‘Coaching rugby at international level is a great honour and opportunity. Wales’ summer tour is a fantastic chance to return to the international game for a short period, learn from others in the environment and ultimately develop myself further as a coach.
‘I’m grateful to the Welsh Rugby Union for the opportunity and to Harlequins for allowing me to undertake the short-term role during our off-season.
‘We’ll return to the club in the first week of a long pre-season campaign to begin our preparations for the 2025-26 season.’