Gatland stands poised at the exit

The aura of hope surrounding Welsh rugby is disintegrating at a rate of knots as the regions and union continue to squabble over player release, and anybody thinking it might not be as serious as feared was given a rude awakening on Wednesday with the news that Warren Gatland was considering his position as national coach.

The aura of hope surrounding Welsh rugby is disintegrating at a rate of knots as the regions and union continue to squabble over player release, and anybody thinking it might not be as serious as feared was given a rude awakening on Wednesday with the news that Warren Gatland was considering his position as national coach.

Gatland's message to the newly-appointed head of newly-created Regional Rugby Wales Limited, the controversial David Moffett, was 'welcome to the soap opera'.

Moffett did little to defuse the tension between union and regions by insisting there was no chance Gatland would have his international players for the fortnight before the Test against South Africa on November 8.

It now seems the whole issue, which has cropped up at little notice and with the national rugby in rude health, has Gatland reflecting that an escape from the politics might not be a wise career move.

“It's very disappointing. I suppose it's taken a real gloss off my position really,” said Gatland on Tuesday.

“I have already questioned my position at the moment. I have been pretty despondent over the whole thing, I've got to admit that.

“We had a meeting with the regions a couple of weeks ago when I said there was no winner here – we don't win, the regions don't win.

“One of their senior officials replied, 'That's Welsh rugby for you.' I told him that was not good enough.

“We need to sort this out, going forward, and make sure these problems are solved.

“You are just frustrated when two sides can't get together and thrash it out. As a Kiwi, you would probably shut the door and bang each other's heads together until you come up with a solution.”

Gatland said he had not asked earlier for the 'extra week' of training for his squad because of the coaching changes at the regions, but said his long-standing agreement has been for 13 days of preparation ahead of both the November series and the Six Nations.

He also said he had not held a desired week of pre-season squad training in order to help the regions prepare for a heavy early-season schedule.

The regions have a round of EDF Energy Cup matches on the weekend of November 1 though, at which many could be playing for semi-final places, and so they want the players for the week ahead of those matches, leaving Gatland with potentially only five days to prepare for SA on November 8.

“I looked at the start of the season and because a couple of the regions had new coaches, it was important we didn't try and affect them by holding training camps,” explained Gatland.

“They also had three games each in the opening week of the season.

“I didn't think there was anything outside the existing participation agreement that I was asking for. Under the current agreement, it is 13 days for the November Tests and 13 days for the Six Nations.”

“I wasn't asking for anything extra in terms of training days. If I had been asking for camps or extra days, I would have done that prior to the season starting.

“Even though it might have been reported we were looking for the full 13 days, we were more than happy to have what Scotland had, which was the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then release the players back.

“It wasn't taking them out of the last round of EDF games. I think that's a compromise.

“We get some time with the players, and the regions get their players back on Wednesday evening so they are available for the weekend.

“I don't see what the issue is, or what the big problem is with that.”

Gatland also called on the players' union, the Welsh Rugby Players Association, whose members make up the bulk of the Wales squad, to help with the player release row, a positive step indeed since not one player appears to have been canvassed on the matter.

“You have got to question the players association because it should be representing the players and coming out strongly on behalf of the players,” said Gatland.

“If I was a player, I would have a massive concern. For it's a huge year for them, in terms of the autumn coming up against three of the best sides in the world, then the Six Nations and a Lions tour at the end of it.

“We've got a full house of 74,500 for the South Africa game and I think the fans want to see the best-prepared Welsh team possible to give us the best chance of beating the world champions.

“I want the regions to do their best and I want the national team to be able to do their best. For that, we need everyone supporting each other.”