Today's rugby news as Gatland's parting Wales gesture emerges and Six Nations call-ups expected
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday, February 12.
Gatland waives payout
Warren Gatland waived a potential six-figure settlement to leave his position as Wales' head coach on Tuesday.
The Telegraph report the New Zealander, who yesterday brought an end to his second spell coaching Wales, will not pick up a financial send-off from the WRU and has "waived a substantial pay-off despite having a deal in place through to the 2027 World Cup, and will only be paid up to the end of the current season".
READ MORE: Matt Sherratt set to change Wales team as he reveals new approach
READ MORE: Mark Williams in frosty TV studio exchange with snooker rival as feud drags on
That will, they state, help with the recruitment of Gatland's long-term successor in the Wales hotseat. Cardiff Rugby coach Matt Sherratt was yesterday appointed interim head coach until the end of the Six Nations.
WRU CEO Abi Tierney said yesterday: “The agreement I and the WRU reached on Monday, I can confirm there was no settlement with Warren. It was by mutual agreement. No [pay-off].
“He said he felt it was in the best interests for Welsh rugby for him to go. I think he’s always put Welsh rugby first and that was his main driving factor. He gave me no sense he’d had enough but when he no longer felt it was the right time for him to be in post, then it was the right time for him to go.”
Cuthbert sees call-ups
Wales international Alex Cuthbert sees Sherratt making call-ups for the remaining three Six Nations games.
Ireland, England and Scotland still lie in wait for Wales in this tournament, who will have Sherratt in charge until the competition concludes.
Gatland's squad, in certain positions, was deemed imbalanced by many and Cuthbert sees additions being made.
"Knowing him, he'll want to put his own stamp on things," Jonathan Davies said on an emergency Scrum V programme last night.
"There will be a few players called in, I think," added Cuthbert.
"Probably an outside-half," he added, when pressed on names. "Another one to add, otherwise in theory we've only got one in camp haven't we, with Dan Edwards. Ben Thomas plays 12 at Cardiff, so there is obviously going to be another outside-half coming in."
Jonathan 'Jiffy' Davies added: "You've got Jarrod Evans, haven't you? If you put Jarrod at 10 and then Ben at 12, then you've got a kicking option. with Ben outside him to help him. Then, is he going to bring (Gareth) Anscombe back? Will he bring Max Llewellyn in? You never know, but hopefully now he's got an open book to do what he wants."
Dragons confirm Tiatia as permanent boss
Dragons have appointed Filo Tiatia as their permanent head coach after he served in an interim capacity since November.
Since moving to Rodney Parade last summer, initially as defence coach, Tiatia found himself in charge mere weeks into the United Rugby Championship season after former head coach Dai Flanagan was dismissed.
He has now signed a multi-year contract with Dragons and aims for a "bright future," notwithstanding the team's position at the bottom of the league standings.
This news broke shortly before Wales revealed that head coach Warren Gatland was leaving, with Cardiff's Matt Sherratt stepping in temporarily. Tiatia expressed his enthusiasm: "I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed dead coach at Dragons RFC and excited about the challenge ahead," adding, "It’s been a real privilege to work in Gwent rugby throughout this season and now lead the programme here as we look towards a bright future.
"We have a talented squad of players, with a number of young homegrown players coming through our system, and backroom team that I am now looking forward to working with in the seasons to come."
Chairman David Wright said: "We are pleased to be able to appoint Filo to the role of head coach.
"We believe his coaching, leadership and expertise will create the environment needed to drive positive change and take our club forward.
"Filo has a wealth of experience and is an innovator and leader with a track record in developing players, coaches, and galvanising squads.
"We accept results this season have not been what our supporters, or indeed we, want. Therefore, we’ve taken our time to complete a full review and make the right decisions for the long-term benefit of Dragons RFC.
"After detailed conversations with Filo, we are all aligned on the way forward and how strengthening the coaching team will also help us achieve our aims.
"Filo is fully committed to the role, excited by the challenge ahead, and we’ve been impressed by the work he’s already done off the field. We now look forward to a successful future under his leadership."
Patchell: This is a six-year project
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell says it took take as long as six years to turn this Wales project around and it must start with an appointment of a director of rugby.
Wales are currently on the lookout for both a DoR and a new head coach after Warren Gatland agreed to leave his post following a record 14-Test losing streak stretching back to the 2023 World Cup.
And Patchell, who as 22 Welsh caps to his name and currently plays in Japan with Green Rockets Tokatsu, warned Wales fans there is no quick fix.
"I think only in Wales do you have the same person being the most successful coach in rugby history and also being the least successful," he said on BBC 5 Live.
"Clearly we were very lucky with the group of players we had and he cultivated the environment to get the most out of those players.
"This is a good three-to-six-year project, before it starts getting off the ground you need a director of rugby. Wales are actively looking for a director of rugby.
"I see it as renovating a house - you've got to strip everything all the way back and start again and get everything in the right place."
INEOS respond to All Blacks claim
By PA Sport Staff
Manchester United co-owner Ineos have hit back after being accused of failing to honour a sponsorship agreement with New Zealand Rugby.
The federation responsible for the All Blacks team says it has launched legal action against the chemicals firm founded by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe after alleging that the first instalment of 2025 sponsorship money due under a six-year agreement struck in 2021 had not been paid.
It follows the severing of ties between Ineos and Sir Ben Ainslie at the head of its America's Cup sailing team last month.
New Zealand Rugby said in a widely reported statement: "New Zealand Rugby is disappointed that Ineos has breached its sponsorship agreement.
"Most recently, it failed to pay the first instalment of the 2025 sponsorship, confirming its decision to exit our six-year agreement.
"Having learned of Ineos' decision to walk away three years early, we have moved to protect the interests of New Zealand Rugby and the wider game.
"We have been left with no option but to launch legal proceedings to protect our commercial position. NZR is actively pursuing new commercial opportunities and global interest in the All Blacks and other Teams in Black remains high."
Ineos released a statement later on Tuesday which read: "Ineos has greatly valued our sponsorship of New Zealand Rugby, having contributed over 30 million US dollars to the teams in recent years.
"However, trading conditions for our European businesses have been severely impacted by high energy costs and extreme carbon taxes, along with much of the chemicals industry in Europe, which is struggling or shutting down. We are witnessing the deindustrialisation of Europe.
"As a result, we have had to implement cost-saving measures across the business. We sought to reach a sensible agreement with the All Blacks to adjust our sponsorship in light of these challenges.
"Unfortunately, rather than working towards a managed solution, New Zealand Rugby have chosen to pursue legal action against their sponsor.
"We remain in ongoing discussion with New Zealand Rugby."
There is no longer any mention of its All Blacks partnership on the Ineos Sports home page. Ineos' co-ownership of United has been turbulent to say the least. The club opted to stand by Erik ten Hag as head coach in the summer but dismissed him last October after a poor start to the season.
Results have failed to improve under his successor Ruben Amorim, and in December it was confirmed Dan Ashworth had left his post as sporting director, having only been in post since July last year.
Sir Dave Brailsford, one of Ratcliffe's key sports advisors at Ineos, is reported to have taken on a more hands-on role at United since Ashworth's exit.
Ineos and Ratcliffe have drawn criticism over their attempts to raise revenue and cut costs at the Premier League club.
Fans expressed outrage over the mid-season decision to remove concessionary prices for general admission tickets, while there has been a wide-ranging redundancy programme.
Around a quarter of what had been a workforce of just over 1,000 people departed over the summer and the PA news agency understands more cuts are now under consideration.
It is reported between 100 and 200 more jobs could go as Ineos continue to hack costs at a club where morale is understood to be low in a numerous departments.
