Matt Sherratt Stays On as Wales' Interim Coach for Crucial Japan Tour
Wales rugby fans are holding their breath—Matt Sherratt is set to steer the ship again, this time as interim head coach on their tour of Japan in July 2025. If you watched Wales' Six Nations matches earlier this year, Sherratt's appointment won't be much of a surprise. He already took charge for the final three games after Warren Gatland's sudden exit. Now, with a two-Test trip looming and a 17-match losing streak casting a long shadow, there’s a lot at stake.
The Japanese adventure kicks off July 5 in Kitakyushu and heads to Kobe for a second clash a week later. For context: Wales hasn’t tasted victory since their 2023 World Cup quarter-final loss to Argentina. Things have only gotten rougher, with the lowest point coming in that 68–14 blowout against England. The squad's pride is on the line, and expectations for a turnaround are higher than ever.
New-Look Coaching Team Steps Up
This isn’t just a change at the top. Sherratt is supported by a completely retooled coaching bench. Out go Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw—names people had gotten used to reading on the team sheet. In come some fresh faces: Danny Wilson, who’s making waves at Harlequins, brings his expertise with forwards. Adam Jones, the renowned Welsh prop and Premiership scrum specialist, is on board to iron out set-piece struggles. Rhys Thomas (currently at Gloucester) and Gethin Jenkins, a storied former Wales prop and now a defensive specialist, complete the group. Each of these coaches will join Sherratt on loan from their clubs, showing just how seriously Wales is taking the tour and the fight to break their losing streak.
While coaching shake-ups often come with drama, this one feels more like a desperate attempt to inject fresh ideas and raw energy. There’s no hiding the reality. Wales are eyeing these matches as a make-or-break chapter in their rugby story, especially with memories of a single loss to Japan in 2013 still haunting fans. Their last meeting in Cardiff, back in 2016, went Wales' way at 33–30, but this time it's different: the losing streak and a hungry Japan side make the odds hard to predict.
Before the Welsh fly in, Japan has its own warm-up against the Māori All Blacks, scheduled for June 28. By the time Wales take the field, their hosts will be anything but rusty.
If you’re searching for signs of hope, look to the revamped coaching structure and the sense of urgency behind every selection. With Sherratt calling the shots for now and a new blend of coaching voices in the background, Wales rugby finds itself at a crossroads. Streaks like theirs don't last forever—but whether this tour will snap it remains anyone's guess.
July 6 2025 0
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