Warren Gatland replacement: Former All Blacks assistant Brad Mooar among bookies' favourites for next Wales coach

Brad Mooar (second from left) celebrates with fellow All Blacks coaching staff after a win in a 2020 Bledisloe Cup match. Photo / Getty Images

A long list of potential new Welsh rugby coaches is dotted with Kiwis including a surprise choice as one of the favourites after the departure of Warren Gatland overnight.

Brad Mooar, who has just returned to the Crusaders camp, has been listed as second-favourite for the job behind high-profile Australian Michael Cheika.

The 50-year-old Mooar was an All Blacks assistant coach under Ian Foster but was sacked after poor early test results. He coached Llanelli club Scarlets and has also assisted Scotland coach Gregor Townsend.

Wales Online reported bombastic former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has already held tentative talks with Wales as they seek a replacement for Gatland, who departed this week after a disastrous run of results.

Wales Online reported that DragonBet listed Cheika as 3/1 favourite, and Mooar – a specialist attack coach – at 4/1.

Simon Easterby and Franco Smith are also reported to be strong contenders.

Easterby, the former Irish loose forward, is the interim head coach of Ireland while Andy Farrell is with the 2025 British and Irish Lions.

Franco Smith, the former Springboks back who is coaching Glasgow Warriors, briefly coached Italy.

Departing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and Blues boss Vern Cotter – a fairly successful coach of Scotland for three years – are quoted as outside prospects.

It would be a shock if Mooar got the job, having just relocated to Christchurch on a two-year Crusaders contract. He was a Crusaders assistant from 2015 to 2019.

New Zealand Rugby paid a healthy release fee to Scarlets – who sought $400,000 compensation – when Mooar joined Foster’s test team.

Wales are enduring their worst-ever run, the loss to Italy making it 14 defeats in a row.

Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt, an Englishman, is interim coach after Gatland’s departure.