Former Wales coach amongst main candidates for Welsh Rugby Union’s director of rugby job
- Wales are looking to appoint three key new employees to begin a revival
- A former Wales Welsh assistant and caretaker coach is in the running
- The Welsh were condemned them to a Six Nations wooden spoon once again
Scott Johnson has emerged as a leading contender to fill the Welsh Rugby Union’s new director of rugby role as the governing body plots a way forward from a dire Six Nations.
Wales were hammered 68-14 by bitter rivals England in Cardiff last Saturday, a result which condemned them to a Championship wooden spoon for the second straight year.
It is now 17 Tests without a win for Wales. Their last international success came against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup.
The England beating has led to calls for seismic change in the Welsh game, with former greats Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones especially vocal.
The WRU’s hierarchy is under extreme pressure, but it is in the middle of looking to appoint three key new employees which it hopes will begin a revival.
Abi Tierney, the WRU chief executive, is leading the hunt for a new permanent men’s head coach to succeed Warren Gatland as well as a director of rugby.
Scott Johnson is a leading contender to fill the Welsh Rugby Union’s new director of rugby role
Off the field, Tierney is also close to appointing a new chief growth officer who will be charged with improving the WRU’s commercial revenues.
MailSport understands Johnson, 62, is in the running for the director of rugby job although no firm decision has yet been made.
The Australian fulfilled the same role with his homeland and Scotland, so has previous international experience.
He also has prior knowledge of the Welsh system having worked as an assistant and caretaker coach with Wales in the 2000’s. Further, he was previously employed by Welsh region Ospreys.
Johnson’s most recent job after departing Australia has been with Canada.
Matt Sherratt took charge of Wales’ last three 2025 Six Nations games as interim head coach following the departure of Gatland, but suffered defeats by Ireland and Scotland before the England battering. Whoever takes over from Gatland permanently is clearly a big call.
But, arguably, the director of rugby position is more important given they will head up all Welsh rugby’s pathway systems which have been neglected for too long.
MailSport understands the WRU has also interviewed a string of Welsh or Welsh-based names for the director of rugby role. Huw Bevan, the WRU’s current interim performance director, is under strong consideration, but it’s Johnson’s past experience with international teams that works in his favour.
Johnson has knowledge of the Welsh system having been an assistant and caretaker coach
The WRU hopes to make a public announcement on their director of rugby role by the end of March and will then push forward with a coaching appointment, ideally in time for the summer tour of Japan. That’s because whoever succeeds Gatland will report to the director of rugby.
Franco Smith, Michael Cheika, Simon Easterby and Pat Lam have been mentioned as potential future Wales coaches.
But MailSport understands Smith is in line to succeed Gregor Townsend as Scotland head coach from 2026, so is likely to stay with Glasgow for now.
