Wales confirm tour coaching ticket as Matt Sherratt returns alongside Harlequins duo
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt during the 2025 Six Nations
Wales have confirmed their coaching ticket for the summer tour of Japan, with Matt Sherratt once again acting as interim head coach.
The Cardiff boss stepped in to fill the void left by the departure of Warren Gatland during the Six Nations, however he will once again return to Cardiff at the end of this tour.
Matt Sherratt to lead Wales for Japan tour as new coaching ticket confirmed
Sherratt will be joined by former Welsh internationals Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and T. Rhys Thomas and current Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson for the two-Test tour of Japan, as Wales seek their first win since the 2023 World Cup.
Commenting on the news, Sherratt said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer. It’s an exciting prospect to go to Japan for two matches in July.
“Thank you to Cardiff for permitting Gethin and I to take up this opportunity. Thank you also to Harlequins and Gloucester for allowing Danny, Adam and TR to join the coaching team for these two fixtures.
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“We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign.”
WRU Chief Executive, Abi Tierney, added: “We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men’s side, 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.
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“Thanks also to both Adam Jones and TR Thomas who will reprise their roles in Matt’s backroom team and to Gethin Jenkins and Danny Wilson who have also answered our call to help build the right team around him for this tour.”
Thomas and Jones previously worked on Sherratt’s staff during this year’s Six Nations campaign, while Jenkins is Sherratt’s defence coach at Cardiff. Wilson is also a new face in this group, and will take over as forwards coach.
Wales will face Eddie Jones’ Japan in a two-Test series in July, with the first Test taking place at the Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu on July 5, and the second at Noevir Stadium in Kobe on July 12.
