Wales: Matt Sherratt addresses Japan tour talk with Steve Tandy decision looming
Former Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt with an inset of Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy
Former Wales interim boss Matt Sherratt has downplayed reports he is set to retake the reins as national head coach for the summer tour to Japan, revealing there has been no official contact between him and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
The current Cardiff head coach took over as interim boss following the sudden sacking of Warren Gatland during the Six Nations, and reports suggest he is the front-runner to take charge of their two-Test tour to Japan this summer, with current favourite Steve Tandy expected to remain with Scotland.
The report from the Daily Mail also suggests that current Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson is set to join Sherratt on the tour.
Matt Sherratt downplays further Wales links
Speaking ahead of his side’s Unite Rugby Championship clash with Munster this weekend, Sherratt detailed that he has had no official contact regarding another stint as interim boss.
“There has been genuinely no formal contact, and I have not been asked officially,” Sherratt told the BBC.
“We had conversations during the Six Nations when I was asked if there was nobody in place ‘would you want to do it?’ and I said we would have to think about that when the time was right.”
It’s been a busy few months for Sherratt, and things have not slowed up since returning to Cardiff either with the club going into administration earlier this month.
“It has been quite busy the past few weeks off the pitch, and also preparing for two games in six days,” he said. “So I haven’t really thought about it (Japan tour).
“If I got asked now, I would have to think about whether it was right now for me, my family or the club.”
This also comes after Sherratt offered a one-word answer when asked if he would want the Wales job on a full-time basis after their 68-14 thrashing at the hands of England.
Steve Tandy as Wales head coach?
While Sherratt has been one name thrown into the mix for the permanent Wales head coach role, it seems current Scotland defence coach Tandy is set to be Gatland’s replacement.
The former Ospreys boss is currently under contract with the Scottish Rugby Union until 2026, though, and would therefore be unlikely to be in place for their tour to Japan this summer.
Tandy isn’t the only new face expected to be announced by the WRU, with Dave Reddin expected to be unveiled as director of rugby this week.
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