The huge amount it will cost Wales to sack head coach Warren Gatland

Monday, 10 February 2025 at 19:51

byRugby Rucker

t would reportedly cost the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) a staggering £2 million to sack Warren Gatland mid-Six Nations, according to the Daily Mail.

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With the head coach earning £600,000 a year, that’s an eye-watering price tag for a team already struggling on and off the pitch.

WRU’s Wednesday Dilemma

Gatland’s future will be on the table at the WRU board meeting this Wednesday. Despite a disastrous 2024—where Wales failed to win a single Test—the governing body opted to give him the Six Nations to turn things around before making a final decision.

Must-Win Match? Didn’t Happen.

No one expected Wales to stun France in Paris, but the clash with Italy was viewed as a must-win. Instead, Gatland’s men slumped to a 22-15 defeat in Rome, leaving them winless and staring down the barrel of upcoming clashes with Ireland, Scotland, and England. On current form, another wooden spoon looks more likely than redemption.

A Costly Call

The WRU does have a break clause in Gatland’s contract that could be activated this summer, according to WalesOnline. If they wait until then, the payout drops to just six months of his salary—a much more manageable figure.

Clock Ticking on Gatland

While CEO Abi Tierney has insisted that the break clause isn’t a key factor in their decision, the financial reality suggests otherwise. A £2m sacking mid-tournament? Highly unlikely. A cheaper summer exit? Now, that’s a conversation worth having.

BonusCodeBets: Who's Next for Wales?

Here are the odds for who could be the next Wales manager:

Steve Tandy: 2/1
Ronan O’Gara: 4/1
Jonathan Humphreys: 6/1
Brad Mooar, Dai Young: 8/1
Shaun Edwards: 10/1
Pat Lam: 14/1
Rob Baxter: 16/1
Chris Boyd: 20/1
Mark McCall: 25/1
Robin McBryde, Adam Jones: 33/1
Eddie Jones, Steve Borthwick: 50/1

Eight Players Who Flopped in the Six Nations This Weekend

The second round of the 2025 Six Nations saw Italy defeat Wales 22-15 in Rome, England edge France 26-25 at Twickenham, and Ireland secure a dominant 32-18 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield.

Despite the thrilling action, several players underperformed. Here’s a summary of the eight who struggled, with quotes from the key publications.

1. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Rugby Pass 4.5/10: "Lost a couple of high hanging kicks... Forced off after 21 minutes following a head collision."
RUCK 5/10: "Couldn't get his nation ticking in the early stages."
The Scotsman: "Limited impact on the game early on as Ireland took control."

Verdict: Russell was underwhelming, leaving Scotland on the back foot from the start.

2. Jonny Gray (Scotland)

Rugby Pass 5/10: "Struggled to make an impact and was replaced early in the second half."
Planet Rugby 5/10: "A few good moments in the set-piece, but nothing substantial."

Verdict: Gray was largely ineffective and couldn’t contribute to Scotland’s fightback.

3. Antoine Dupont (France)

Rugby Pass 5/10: "Had a few sloppy passes and missed a try-scoring chance."
Mail Online 6/10: "Far from his best but still involved in setting up tries."

Verdict: Dupont’s usual brilliance was lacking, and he struggled with errors that disrupted France’s rhythm.

4. Josh Adams (Wales)

RUCK 3/10: "Butchered two try-scoring opportunities and got a yellow card."
Planet Rugby 4/10: "Missed two huge chances, lucky to escape a red card."
Wales Online 4/10: "Butchered two easy try-scoring chances and received a yellow card."

Verdict: Adams’ poor decision-making and missed opportunities overshadowed his performance.

5. Marcus Smith (England)

RUCK 5/10: "Struggled with decision-making and was inconsistent in attack and defence."
Evening Standard 5/10: "Lucky not to be punished for defensive lapses."
Planet Rugby 4/10: "His kicking woes made things difficult."

Verdict: Smith’s performance was mixed, with missed kicks and defensive mistakes.

6. Henry Thomas (Wales)

Planet Rugby 3/10: "Put under serious pressure in the scrum, conceded multiple penalties."
Wales Online 4/10: "Gave away four scrum penalties and was replaced at halftime."
RUCK 3/10: "Physically outmatched by the Italian pack."

Verdict: Thomas struggled at the scrum, and his performance hurt Wales’ forward dominance.

7. Evan Lloyd (Wales)

Planet Rugby 4/10: "Lineout misfired again and couldn’t help his props."
Wales Online 4/10: "Struggled in the lineout but solid in attack and defence."
RUCK 3/10: "Failed to make an impact at the lineout."

Verdict: Lloyd’s lack of impact in the lineout hurt Wales' set-piece.