The former Wales coach had been heavily linked with a return to frontline coaching
Gatland has been heavily linked with a new job in Japan
Warren Gatland’s future has taken a surprising twist, with his rumoured new job now set to be taken by one of his former British & Irish Lions assistant coaches.
Earlier this month, the New Zealander – who left his role as Wales head coach midway through the Six Nations – was widely reported to be joining Japanese club side Urayasu D-Rocks, with reports in Japan claiming that he would replace former Scotland international Greig Laidlaw as their head coach ahead of the new Rugby League One season, which begins in December.
It was set to be Gatland’s first move into frontline coaching since leaving the Wales job in February, having taken up an advisory role with Uruguayan club side Penarol over the summer.
However, while an announcement from the D-Rocks confirming the 61-year-old’s appointment was thought to be imminent, things have gone quiet over the last two weeks, with Laidlaw’s exit also remaining unconfirmed during that time. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby
That all changed on Monday, however, with the club announcing that the former Scotland scrum-half would be stepping down as head coach and taking up a new role as ‘Executive Club Ambassador’.
“As part of a strategic reorganization aimed at realizing the club’s mid-to-long-term vision and further strengthening its organisational structure, [Laidlaw] has stepped down as head coach and has been appointed as Executive Club Ambassador,” the statement read.
“Having led the team as a player and head coach until now, he will take on a role to further enhance the club’s value, serving as a bridge connecting fans, the local community, and partners, and will continue to contribute to the development of Urayasu D-Rocks. The appointment of the new head coach will be announced separately.”
However, while it has been widely expected that Gatland will fill the role vacated by Laidlaw, a new report claims that former Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has emerged as the frontrunner for the job.
Former Leicester Tigers and England prop Rowntree, who worked under Gatland on two Lions tours in 2013 and 2017, left Munster in October last year, and has since been linked with a host of top jobs, including the Wales head coach role that has since been filled by Steve Tandy.
A report from RugbyPass on Monday said the 54-year-old former Tigers star was now in “pole position” to take the top job at the D-Rocks, having leapfrogged Gatland seemingly out of nowhere.
“Despite media reports claiming that an announcement [for Gatland] was imminent three weeks ago, nothing has happened,” the report read.
“Now sources are saying that it is in fact the 2003 World Cup winner Rowntree who is in pole position for the job.”
It comes after RugbyJP.com reported that Gatland had been “picked from a host of international candidates” to become the new D-Rocks boss, with that shortlist reportedly also including a former Springbok international.
Whoever ends up as head coach will be taking charge of some big names in their new role, including South Africa back rower Jasper Wiese and Wallabies internationals Samu Kerevi and Israel Folau.
The club struggled on their return to the top flight last season as they lost 15 of their 18 regular season games, before beating Division Two side Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi in a play-off match to avoid relegation to the second tier.