Wales rugby’s coaching landscape shifts as scrum coach Matt Ferguson emerges as a strong candidate to join Warren Gatland’s team
Cardiff: So, there’s some buzz around the Welsh rugby scene. The Welsh Rugby Union has been a bit vague about Warren Gatland’s future. They said he’s safe for now, but changes could be coming.
They’re looking to shake things up a bit, especially with the Six Nations around the corner. The idea is to boost the team’s mindset and culture by possibly adding new coaches.
Now, finding a new coach mid-season isn’t easy. But there’s talk about Adam Jones being a future coach for Wales. Right now, he’s tied up with Harlequins. Then there’s Graham Rowntree, who’s available and has worked with Gatland before.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Reports say that scrum coach Matt Ferguson might be the one the WRU is eyeing. Just hours after Northampton announced he’d be leaving, the links to Wales popped up.
However, there’s a catch. With Gatland needing to prove himself during the Six Nations, it seems unlikely the WRU would let Ferguson join right away.
Ferguson might not be a household name, but he’s had a solid coaching career. He’s worked with England women and had stints with Cardiff, Bristol, and London Welsh.
His journey into coaching started while he was playing for Stourbridge. He became Shropshire’s first community rugby coach, which was partly funded by the RFU.
A chance meeting with Rowntree at a coaching conference really kicked off his career. Ferguson impressed Rowntree with a video showing how to improve scrummaging with just a few cheap items.
They teamed up in the RFU’s Scrum Factory, and Ferguson later became the forward coach for England women. His time with Cardiff was notable, especially since he was a bit of an unknown at the time.
Burnell, a friend of Ferguson, shared how he won over the players with his knowledge and work ethic. They had a great run, reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
Ferguson’s coaching at Northampton has been impressive, and it’s no surprise he’s being considered for a role with Wales. He’s known for his technical skills and has helped players transition to Test rugby.
Burnell believes Ferguson would be a fantastic fit for the Welsh setup. He thinks some players could really benefit from his expertise, especially those who are still finding their way.
Overall, Ferguson seems like a great option for Welsh rugby, and it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out.
