The Wales senior men’s coaching team has been confirmed for the two Test matches against Japan this July.
Matt Sherratt will resume the head coach role on an interim basis for the series, having overseen Wales’ Guinness Six Nations matches against Ireland, Scotland and England earlier this year.
Joining head coach Matt Sherratt in the coaching team for the summer will be former Wales internationals Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and T. Rhys Thomas, as well as Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson.
WRU Chief Executive Abi Tierney said: 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.
“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.”
Sherratt added: “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.
“We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign.”
Wales’ second-most capped men’s player Jenkins is seconded from Cardiff Rugby as defence coach for the series, having previously been part of the senior men’s coaching set up with Wales between October 2020 and December 2022. In his playing career, 129-cap Jenkins won four Six Nations titles including three Grand Slams.
Jones and Wilson both join Wales on secondment from Gallagher Premiership side Harlequins.
95-cap and triple Grand Slam winner Jones returns as a scrum consultant – a role he held during this year’s Guinness Six Nations campaign. Wilson joins as interim forwards coach.
Wilson’s coaching CV includes lifting the 2017/18 Challenge Cup title with Cardiff Rugby, reaching a World Rugby U20 Championship final with Wales U20s and coaching Scotland Men’s forwards from 2018-2020. Wilson was also head coach at Glasgow Warriors before joining Leicester Tigers in January 2023 as a part-time consultant for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
T. Rhys Thomas, who made 27 appearances for Wales and represented Cardiff, Wasps and Dragons during his playing career, also returns to the Wales coaching set up for a second time this year from Gallagher Premiership side Gloucester Rugby. Thomas will be assistant forwards coach.
The two-Test series against the Brave Blossoms begins with Wales returning to Kitakyushu, the city that hosted the squad for a training camp ahead of the world cup in 2019, where the first Test takes place on 5 July at Mikuni World Stadium.
Following that Wales head to Kobe for the second Test on July 12 at Noevir Stadium.
As the official Supporter Travel Partner of the WRU, Gullivers Sports Travel has exclusive packages for Wales’ Summer Tour to Japan. Fans looking to secure their spot should visit the Gulliver’s travel website.
Wales fans can also watch Japan at home in Cardiff later this year as part of the Autumn Nations Series. Tickets are on sale at WRU Member Clubs from today (Tuesday 20 May) at a £5 priority discount across all games and categories.
Hen Skittle
Japan was the first Asian nation to reach the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup – In 2019, Japan hosted the Rugby World Cup. Not only were they the first Asian nation to host they Rugby World Cup, they also shocked the world by beating Scotland to reach the knockout stages for the first time in history. Though they were eventually stopped by South Africa in the quarter-finals, they stole our hearts with the way they played. They also showed that taking rugby to new nations is the way forward to grow the game’s popularity.
BlacKitten
Still on the subject of cricket superstitions, the player with the most rituals performed during a match is arguably Neil McKenzie of South Africa. Before a game, for example, he would attach his cricket bat to the ceiling with tape. When it’s time for him to bat, he would check all the changing room lights to make sure they were shut off and that the toilet seats were down.