Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Steffan Thomas

Cardiff set for shake-up with senior coaches wanted in Japan and England

Cardiff are set for an overhaul of their coaching team with T Rhys Thomas and Richie Rees wanted by clubs outside of Wales.

The Arms Park has not been a happy place after director of rugby Dai Young was suspended in April following a number of complaints from employees.

An investigation is currently underway with doubt over whether Young will resume his duties as director of rugby next season, while more coaches are expected to leave.

READ MORE: Wales lock Cory Hill left sweating on club future ahead of Rugby World Cup as he struggles to secure contract

WalesOnline understands highly rated forwards coach Thomas is on the verge of joining English Premiership outfit Gloucester next season.

We have also been told assistant coach Rees is on the radar of a leading Japanese club but there is some way to go before it becomes a done deal, while Duane Goodfield has also left the Arms Park.

Should they all depart it would leave Matt Sherratt as the only senior coach at Cardiff which is far from the ideal scenario with defence guru Richard Hodges having also left to join Italian strugglers Zebre.

The next few seasons are likely to be very tough for all four Welsh sides with a period of austerity on the cards. Playing budgets are being cut significantly while the wages of players are being driven down.

Squad sizes are expected to drop from 48-50 to 42 next season, with the Professional Rugby Board considering a loan system in the case of an injury crisis.

Efforts are being made to improve the academy and development system in Wales but that will take years to have any real bearing on performances at regional level.

The changes are being felt more felt more acutely at Cardiff due the number of players they have on their books who were in the now defunct National Squad 38.

Cardiff have already lost players they would ideally have kept with Dillon Lewis and Jarrod Evans off to Harlequins while Max Llewellyn has joined Gloucester.

Experienced campaigners such as Dmitri Arhip, Uilisi Halaholo, Rey Lee-Lo, and Lloyd Williams are others who won't be there next season.

Should Young depart the new head coach has a thankless task putting a squad together on a shoestring budget, making it vitally important Cardiff appoint a new coaching team as soon as possible.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.