Warren Gatland: Ex-Wales coach takes up advisory role with Uruguayan club Penarol

Gatland is one of rugby’s most successful coaches, with spells at Connacht, Wasps, Waikato and Super Rugby side Chiefs in addition to an international career which began at the helm of Ireland in 1998.

He led the British and Irish Lions to a series victory against Australia in 2013 and a draw against the All Blacks four years later.

In his first spell as Wales head coach, from 2007 to 2019, he guided the side to three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals.

Wales even briefly topped the world rankings in August 2019 after a record 14-match unbeaten run. During that first stint in charge Gatland recorded 70 wins in 125 games, with 53 defeats and two draws, a success rate of 56%.

However, having returned following the sacking of Wayne Pivac in 2022 he presided over statistically the worst Wales side in their 144-year international rugby history, with 14 successive Test losses. Gatland’s second spell brought only six wins and 20 defeats in 26 matches, a success rate of less than 25%.

The side have still to halt a losing run stretching back to a World Cup victory over Georgia in October 2023. Under caretaker Matt Sherratt, Wales’ record run of Test defeats has been extended to 17.

The search for a full-time successor to Gatland is being led by recently appointed Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) director of rugby Dave Reddin, with Scotland defence coach and former Ospreys boss Steve Tandy a leading target.

Penarol became Uruguay’s first professional rugby club when founded in 2019 and are top of the SRA table. Victory over Argentina’s Pampas in their final regular-season game will secure them a home semi-final.

Penarol provide the majority of the players in the Uruguay national side.