00:00Matt Sherratt has left his role as Cardiff Rugby head coach
00:05just days before the start of the United Rugby Championship season
00:08to take up a full-time position as Wales as a tack coach
00:12under new head coach Steve Tandy.
00:15Sherratt's move, widely anticipated,
00:17comes after he successfully wed Wales on an interim basis earlier on this year,
00:22overseeing five test matches during the Six Nations
00:25and the summer tour to Japan,
00:26where the team ended an 18-test losing streak
00:30with a win over the Brave Blossom in Kobe.
00:34The timing of Sherratt's departure is challenging for Cardiff,
00:38who now face the URC opener against the Lions
00:40with their remaining coaching staff,
00:43Cornel Van Zeele, Gethith Jenkins, Johnny Goodridge and Scott Andrews
00:47taking interim charge.
00:49A short-term plan is expected immediately,
00:52alongside a review to process and he implement a long-term strategy.
00:57Interim managing director Jamie Moore praised Sherratt's contributions
01:01and expressed confidence in the current coaching team
01:04to lead Cardiff into the new season positively.
01:09Sherratt said leaving Cardiff was a difficult decision,
01:12noting the progress made in establishing a playing style
01:16that resonates with the club's history and identity.
01:20Sherratt's coaching career spans roles with Worcester Warriors' academy,
01:25Bristol, Cardiff and Ospreys,
01:27and he previously worked with Wales in 2016 and 2017.
01:31He took over at Cardiff in 2023,
01:33navigating a pre-season friendly with just eight players
01:36amid broader financial challenges,
01:39before leading the team to notable performances,
01:41including narrowly missing a play-off spot last season.
01:44His wealth of experience and prior work with Wales
01:47make him a natural fit for Tandy's coaching set-up,
01:51where he reunites with former Cardiff coach Danny Wilson.
01:55For Cardiff, the focus now turns to adapting quickly
01:58under interim leadership,
02:00while Sherratt embarks on a new chapter at the international level.
02:04His departure signals both opportunity for Wales
02:07and a fresh challenge for the Arms Park
02:09as the URC season gets underway.
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