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Warren Gatland was appointed Wales head coach on this day in 2007 as Welsh rugby looked to rebuild following their early World Cup exit.<\/p>\n
A 38-34 defeat to Fiji 41 days earlier saw Wales knocked out at the group stage in France, with Gareth Jenkins sacked the following morning.<\/p>\n
The Welsh Rugby Union launched a global search for his replacement and the process led them 12,000 miles away to a former hooker who had played 17 non-international matches for New Zealand but never won a Test cap.<\/p>\n
Wales is the sleeping giant of world rugby, I want to achieve potential<\/p>\n
Gatland had impressed during a three-year spell in charge of Ireland between 1998 and 2001, just missing out on the Six Nations title in his final year as England held a superior points difference.<\/p>\n
He also led Wasps to three Premiership titles and the Heineken Cup between 2002 and 2005 before returning to his homeland to coach Waikato.<\/p>\n
After signing an initial four-year contract with Wales, Gatland said: \u201cI feel tremendous pride in coaching Wales and gratitude at the chance to work at the highest level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWales is the sleeping giant of world rugby, I want to achieve potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gatland made an immediate impact as he led Wales to Grand Slam success in 2008, an achievement he would repeat in 2012 and 2019.<\/p>\n
In doing so, Gatland became the first coach to win three Grand Slams in the Five or Six Nations era.<\/p>\n
Gatland\u2019s initial 12-year reign also saw Wales reach the semi-finals of the 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups.<\/p>\n
He was reappointed to the role in December 2022 and Wales reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup the following year, where they lost 29-17 to Argentina.<\/p>\n