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Gatland left his second stint as Wales coach earlier in the year following 14 straight defeats
Former Wales coach Warren Gatland has been linked with a return to coaching with Georgia.
Gatland left his post as Wales head coach midway through this year’s Six Nations, after a disastrous second spell in charge that saw him lose 20 of 26 Tests. Since then, Gatland has done some consultancy work in Uruguay, but the Georgia job would offer Gatland the chance to coach at another World Cup.
Former England international Richard Cockerill had held the role, winning back-to-back Rugby Europe Championships titles and qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
However, having failed to claim any notable scalps over Tier One nations, Cockerilll has resigned from the job with immediate effect.
Midi Olympique have reported that the search for a new head coach is already well under way, with former Clermont coach Frank Azema having met with Georgian officials last week.
Brive coach Pierre-Henry Broncan had also reportedly been in discussions with Georgia’s governing body for some time, but those talks have not been successful.
Midi Olympique add that as well as negotiating with Azema, Georgia are also in talks with a “New Zealand coach”.
That would appear to be Gatland, with Ruck reporting he is poised to take over the role.
Given how big a factor it seemingly was in Cockerill’s departure, getting the better of Tier One nations would be a priority were Gatland to take the job.
After departing, Cockerill cited a difference of opinion with Georgia RU President, Davit Kacharava, as an underlying factor behind him stepping down.
“I would like to thank the Georgian Rugby Union for the honour of being the head coach of the Georgian national team and the franchise, the ‘Black Lions’, for two years. Ioseb Tkemaladze, the former president of the Georgian Rugby Union, invited me and I personally thank him for this opportunity,” he said.
“In April 2025, Davit Kacharava became the new president of the Georgian Football Federation. He has a different vision for the development of the Georgian national team and I respect his decision. I personally wish him and his team success in their future endeavours.
“I am proud of my time as head coach of the Georgian national team. I have created a solid foundation for the team’s future and I am leaving it in a better position than it was before.”
Georgia have been drawn in Pool B at the 2027 World Cup, alongside defending champions South Africa, Italy and Romania.
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