Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis defends head coach Warren Gatland
Wales’ Rugby Union chief executive, Roger Lewis has insisted that he made the right decision in extending Warren Gatland’s contract as the Wales coach.
Lewis secured the services of Gatland until 2015 prior to the Autumn Internationals. However, the Welsh team’s poor performance and Gatland’s public criticism of the team following Wales’ 16-16 draw with Fiji have led to questions as to whether handing Gatland a long-term contract was the correct decision.
While speaking to BBC Wales, Lewis was asked whether he had any regrets about giving Gatland a new contract in light of the poor performances in the Autumn Internationals. Lewis replied that he had “none whatsoever.”
The chief executive admitted that Wales’ performances were not of a high enough standard, but he was optimistic that Gatland and his coaching staff were capable of improving ahead of the Six Nations and World Cup next year. “Everyone was hugely disappointed by that and we know we are capable of so much more. Of course it's now about looking to the future, but let me emphasize the hurt and disappointment that has been felt by everyone in the camp.”
Lewis stated that the Test matches highlighted the problems with Welsh rugby and that various different aspects of the game in Wales had to be looked at. "What the autumn internationals have done for us is show a whole range of challenges that we knew were below the surface. It's not only in terms of our player pool and the depth of it; it's in terms of how we manage the season, how we manage our players throughout the year, how we create our pathways of development, how we manage issues when we have so many injuries.”
Lewis was adamant that Gatland was the type of coach who could improve Wales in the long-term and he said, "The good news is—and as I say we do need to be positive and look to the future—is that we really now understand what we've got there and talking to the likes of Warren and the coaches they know what's required in the future.”
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